Between the great colleges and universities in Florida, and the “snow birds” who fly south for the winter months, there’s a lot of dual-residency in the Sunshine State. Florida also has a fair share of DUI offenders that have car breathalyzer or ignition interlock requirements, which can be a problem if Florida isn’t the only state they call “home.” That ignition interlock needs to be serviced periodically, with data sent off to confirm you’ve been sober when driving, but if you’re not IN Florida when it’s time to “report in,” you could be looking at a violation of your requirement.
Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case, especially when you choose an ignition interlock service provider that understands your situation. Florida’s policy on dual-residency is simple – they let the service provider handle the reporting, so if the same company is in both of your locations, they’ll be able to keep you compliant. The company can also agree to share information with another agency outside of Florida, if they have no local service providers where you live in that state. Just be sure that before you leave Florida, everyone knows your situation so that you don’t have any problems while at your other home.
After a DUI conviction, it is important that you follow the direction of the court in order to stay away from any further consequences. Even if you live in Florida and in another state, you can still keep up your end of the ignition interlock requirement just by choosing a provider who understands the laws and who is willing to work with you. From there, you can freely drive between your two homes, enjoying the miles while remaining sober behind the wheel of your car.