Is There Financial Assistance for Car Breathalyzers?

Going through the process of being charged with a DUI can be a time consuming and costly endeavor. Many people who are struggling financially may wonder how they are going to make it by with additional bills like the installations and maintenance of car breathalyzers, or ignition interlock devices. The good news is that many states such as Washington, Colorado, Wisconsin and Minnesota now offer public assistance programs to help pay for these mandatory devices.

The process for most states is a simple one. The first step is to fill out an application for public assistance. This application will ask you questions about your income and family size, much like a tax form. Once you have been approved you must then talk to an ignition interlock program coordinator. Once you and your coordinator have decided on an ignition interlock provider, you will then contact that provider to make sure that the funds are available for you to use through them. Then you simply schedule your installation appointment with your new interlock provider. There may be some maintenance fees that you will still be expected to come up with, but these are generally less expensive than the original installation. If you find the process confusing for your state you can always contact your lawyer or local DMV for advice and a good starting point.

Ignition interlock devices help people charged with a DUI maintain the ability and freedom to drive.  When the only other option is not driving your car, installing an ignition interlock device becomes a top priority. Many people would find it hard to get to work and continue to support themselves and their families without ignition interlock devices. Thankfully, many states have responded to this need through the creation of easy to use public assistance programs for car breathalyzers.