Some people have a difficult time learning life’s lessons, and that may not be more evident than when they try to tamper with a car breathalyzer or ignition interlock device. As a consequence for a drunk driving conviction, these devices are ordered by a court for a reason: you were caught drinking and driving. The law sees that despite your criminal charge, you still need to have a way to get back and forth from work or other responsibilities. You could just beg for rides from friends or rely on public transportation, but with the safety of these devices, at least everyone knows that you’re sober when driving.
Then comes that moment when you think that you have a way around the device. You’ve been drinking, or are planning to drink, and you just don’t want to have an ignition interlock test failure when you try to drive away. The problem is that in that situation, you are drinking and driving again. Your reasons for tampering with your ignition interlock device prove that you want to drink and drive, and you will do what it takes to put the lives of others in danger, again.
There are penalties for tampering with an ignition interlock device, including:
- Extension of the ignition interlock time requirement.
- Extra fines and fees on top of the costs of your original drunk driving conviction.
- Imprisonment.
- Revocation of your driver’s license and ability to drive with an ignition interlock.
Your ignition interlock device records more than your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the data it transmits to your reporting agency. The device also reports any tampering or attempts to circumvent or bypass its installation, and you can expect to find yourself in deeper trouble for your efforts. Since ignition interlock devices are trusted to keep you from drinking and driving, the last thing you want to do is tamper with the device and show the court just how untrustworthy you really are.
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