Even though California doesn’t require car breathalyzers or ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders, four counties in the state currently run an all-offender “pilot program” that has been successful in reducing the number drunk drivers on the roads. Since ignition interlocks only work when they are used, California residents in those four counties can qualify for assistance paying the installation cost of the device.
On top of court costs and fines, and the money you have to pay to reinstate your license, adding in the cost of an ignition interlock may be outside of your financial means. But, without the device, you’re going to have to rely on friends, family members or public transportation in order to keep your job and your paycheck at the end of the week. California sees how this can be a difficult choice, and if you’re a resident of Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, or Tulare Counties and earn an income at or below the federal poverty guidelines, you will be able to reduce the costs of your ignition interlock by up to 50 percent.
Instead of trying to drive illegally, which will only increase your penalties and consequences and possibly cost you more freedom than you realize, you have options that can help you resume your life as normally as possible. The state of California understands that while you may have made a bad choice to drink and drive, you still have obligations to your family and loved ones that include a need to drive your own vehicle. With reduced ignition interlock installation costs and the assurance of your freedom to drive as long as you are sober behind the wheel, finding your way back to a better place after a DUI in California is one of the best financial commitments you can make.
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