When someone gets arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) charges in Colorado, there are multiple criminal penalties possible. The state may incarcerate them and order them to pay fines. They will also usually lose their licenses.
Drivers with a DUI on their record may also face an obligation to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicles. Essentially, the state will put a restriction on their driver’s license that only allows them to operate a vehicle with a specialized breath test device installed. They will have to perform a test every time they drive. Drivers cannot start a vehicle with an IID installed if they test positive for alcohol, and the device will record their test results.
When does Colorado mandate IID installation?
What Are the State IID Requirements?
Colorado state law requires the installation of an IID if you want to get your license back during your revocation period after a DUI conviction. For a first offense, you can potentially obtain a restricted IID license after serving one month of your revocation. Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of your arrest will dictate how long you will need to keep the IID installed in your vehicle.
Standard first-time DUI charges will mean eight months with an IID in your vehicle. A high-BAC charge will mean two years with an IID. After a second or subsequent DUI conviction, there will be a two-year IID requirement regardless of someone’s BAC at the time of the arrest.
Drivers who lose their license for an implied consent offense, meaning that they refused chemical testing during a DUI traffic stop or arrest, can also qualify for a restricted IID license. They will need to serve two months of their revocation and maintain the IID in their vehicles for at least two years.
Getting an IID Is Beneficial in Most Cases
When you consider that the alternative to installing an IID in your vehicle is going without your driving privileges for months if not years, a restricted license may look pretty attractive. Although the expense and obligation involved in IID installation and maintenance may frustrate you, losing your driving privileges for an extended period would be a more significant hardship.
The only way to avoid an IID in your vehicle while also avoiding the revocation of your license is to defend against those DUI charges. Learning about the consequences of DUI charges in Colorado might give you the inspiration you need to defend yourself in court.
