Planning To Party And Have No Designated Driver? Legal Ramifications Of A DUI You May Not Be Aware Of
If you are planning to party and you have no designated driver, you could get a DUI if you drive home while intoxicated. Besides losing your license and going to jail, there are other legal ramifications of getting a DUI. Below are two of these ramifications so you can learn what will happen to you.
Ignition Interlock Device
An ignition interlock device (IID) may need to be installed in your vehicle. This depends on the state that you live in, however. An IID is connected to your car's ignition system. A tube is also attached to your dash and the tube connects to the IID. When you start your car, you have to blow into the tube before you can put your car in drive and start driving. The tube then works like a breathalyzer test to determine if you are intoxicated. If the number shows that you are intoxicated, then the IID turns off the ignition system and your car will not start again. In most states, the number has to be .08 or above for you to be considered intoxicated.
Once you start your car and drive, the IID will start a timer. Once the timer goes off, an LED message will show up on your dash and an alarm will sound. This is alerting you that you have to stop and blow into the tube. If you do not take the test, the IID will do things like cause your car's headlights to flash or the horn to go off non-stop.
The timer will reset, and you will have to breathe into the tube again at different intervals. This is known as rolling samples. If the IID does detect that you are intoxicated, it will not stop your car, and it will make a recording of the test. The system then notifies your probation officer or the court.
Fees and Higher Insurance Premiums
Expect to spend a substantial amount of money once you get a DUI. For example, you will have a lot of fees to pay such as court fines, a jail fee, and licensing fees. You will also have to pay money to get your license back. In many cases, you will be required to have some type of alcohol treatment from a therapist. You will also have to pay for this, and it can be very expensive.
If your state requires that you have an IID installed in your vehicle then you will have to pay for the installation costs, as well as pay a monthly fee to maintain the IID.
You will also have to pay a higher premium for your car insurance. This is because once your insurance company learns of your DUI, your payment may be doubled or tripled. This is because you will be known as a high-risk driver, as you are more likely to get in wrecks if you continue to drive under the influence.
Talk with a DUI lawyer about this information and they can give you many more details.