AZ Ignition Interlock Devices (IID) and DUI Laws (2023)

FAQs

Does Arizona have a law regarding ignition interlock devices? ›

State law requires installation and maintenance of an interlock when your driving privilege is limited or restricted after being convicted of a certain alcohol- and/or drug-related violation (see Arizona Revised Statutes 28-1381, 28-1382, 28-1383, 28-1402, 28-1461 and 28-3319).

If the interlock detects alcohol on the breath, the engine will not start. This measures your breath alcohol content (BAC) level. You'll only be able to start your vehicle if your BAC level is under 0.020.

Here are the requirements for early termination:

You were convicted of a first-time regular DUI (i.e., BAC less than 0.15). If you were convicted of an Extreme or Super Extreme DUI, then you are not eligible for this program. 2. You successfully completed 16 hours of an alcohol education program.

Failed/missed rolling retest – all drivers receive a violation after 3 failed/missed rolling retests. This includes turning off your vehicle while the ignition interlock device is requesting a sample, either intentionally or by mistake. This violation results in a six-month extension.

Under Arizona's Implied Consent law A.R.S. 28-1321 a refusal of breathalyzer, blood, or urine tests subject to Arizona DUI laws results in a one year suspension of driving privileges. For a second refusal within 84 months, the driving suspension is for a period of 2 years.

Tampering with your Intoxalock device or attempting to bypass your breathalyzer connections is considered as being out of compliance with your IID requirements. This means that you're no longer driving legally. Clearly, this can result in more legal consequences for you.

Standard Drinks and BAC

For every one drink, your BAC goes up by about 0.02 percent, so reaching a BAC of 0.08 percent takes about four to five drinks.

In Arizona, if you are 21-years-old or older, you can receive a DUI charge if your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is above . 08% (commercial vehicle driver - . 04%, under 21 - 0.00%).

08 is too high. And in fact, many countries around the world do employ lower BAC limits for drunk driving. Note too that you can be convicted of impaired driving even if your blood alcohol is lower than . 08.

Duration of the Ignition Interlock Program

For a first offense, you are only required to have the device for 12 months. However, if you have a “super extreme” BAC level of . 20 or higher, you will have to have the device for 18 months.

How do you hide an ignition interlock camera? ›

Place the device in a shoebox or bag where you can thread the cord (if your device has one) through the bottom of the box or bag. You can store the device in the center console. This will hide it from public view. You can also just cover the device and cord with a sweater or jacket, or even a magazine.

If you are convicted of a driving under the influence (DUI) offense or related violation in Arizona, you may be eligible for a special ignition interlock restricted driver license (SIIRDL). This is a driver's license with specific restrictions given alongside an ignition interlock device.

You can fail an IID breath test for one of several reasons. It might be that you used an alcohol-based mouthwash, or fermentation has turned a bit of fruit juice in your mouth to alcohol. Even the fermentation of yeast in bread or pizza dough could supply an alcohol molecule or two, could be enough to cause a fail.

An interlock where the failure of a single mechanical or electrical component of the interlock will cause the system to go into, or remain in, a safe mode.

A fail message on your Ignition Interlock Device means that alcohol is detected at or above your state's specific fail level. It may not mean that you are at the violation level indicated in your state's standards. For initial tests, you will not be able to start your vehicle.

After you are arrested for a DUI, the prosecutor has 1 year to charge you for a misdemeanor DUI and 7 years to charge you for a felony DUI. This rule comes from Arizona's statute of limitations. If the prosecutor does not file a case within those timeframes, then the DUI cannot be charged. Need Legal Help?

Arizona drivers have the right to refuse a field sobriety test (FST), although this refusal may lead to arrest on suspicion of DUI (driving under the influence). Additionally, prosecution uses this refusal against you if your case goes to court, typically claiming your refusal proves you feared failing the test.

PLEASE NOTE: Intoxilyzer test results are admissible in court. In spite of this, portable breathalyzers are still crucial to DUI cases and are an often used tool used by police to establish probable cause and lead to an initial arrest for DUI.

Is the Device Recording Me? The answer to this very commonly asked question is an emphatic no. The camera on an interlock device is not capable of recording video; it is merely snapping a photo any time a person provides a breath sample.

An ignition interlock camera only takes pictures at designated times. Typically when a user is powering up the interlock, taking the test, and starting the vehicle. Those photos are downloaded with the other ignition interlock data at the regular monitoring and calibration appointment.

How do you beat the ignition interlock system? ›

How Fast Can You Sober Up? Alcohol leaves the body at an average rate of 0.015 g/100mL/hour, which is the same as reducing your BAC level by 0.015 per hour. For men, this is usually a rate of about one standard drink per hour.

0.10 – 0.12% – Obvious physical impairment and loss of judgment. Speech may be slurred. 0.13 – 0.15% – At this point, your blood alcohol level is quite high. You'll be affected by blurred vision, loss of coordination and balance, and potentially dysphoria (anxiety or restlessness).

After a man has three standard drinks, the equation changes even further: At 100 pounds, a man will have a BAC of 0.11. If he drinks them over one hour, he will have a BAC of 0.10, and if he drinks them over two hours, he will have a BAC of 0.08.

Arizona Legal Limit

Arizona has strict limits regarding the amount of alcohol consumption allowed when operating a vehicle. If your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is above . 08% in the state of Arizona, you will receive a DUI.

The legal limit for DUI charges in Arizona is . 08% Blood Alcohol Content or BAC. However, under Arizona law a driver can also be arrested for DUI charges for BAC below . 08%, (the legal limit). This charge is called "impaired to the slightest degree".

What makes Arizona DUI laws particularly strict? It's not only the penalties, but also what can be considered grounds for a DUI charge. As a zero tolerance state, you can be charged if your BAC is lower than 0.08 and the officer believes you were impaired.

In some cases, the breathalyzer may detect alcohol for up to 12 hours. In other individuals, the breathalyzer test may work for twice that long. Although the average person metabolizes about 1 alcoholic drink per hour, this rate varies.

1.480 BAC. After a car crash that resulted in serious injuries, a Polish man's BAC was taken and it was 1.480%. That's the highest BAC ever recorded in known history. Doctors said he survived his brush with death due to drinking, but he later died due to his injuries from the car crash.

Foods high in protein and healthy fats, like yogurt and salmon, can help slow alcohol absorption. Avocados and bananas also contain plenty of potassium, which you might lose after drinking.

How much does an interlock cost in Arizona? ›

The Cost of an Interlock Device in Arizona

Installation: The cost of installing an IID in your vehicle typically ranges from $70 to $150. Some providers may offer discounts or promotions to help reduce this cost. Monthly Lease: Most IIDs are leased, with monthly fees ranging from $60 to $100.

Blow into the device as you normally would to keep the vehicle running. If you are uncomfortable providing a breath sample while driving, Intoxalock allows enough time (about six minutes) for you to pull over to submit your breath test.

The LifeSafer L250 is the most accurate, reliable, and affordable device on the market.

Intoxalock Log Reporter is a secure password protected website that provides easy access monitoring. At a glance, Log Reporter displays sample history, BrAC readings, corresponding photos and GPS location, all in real time.

The purpose of the camera is to document the identity of the person using the ignition interlock device. Typically, the camera is mounted on the windshield and captures the images of the person required to use an ignition interlock device.

Hide an Interlock Device in the Car

Small Box: You could use a shoebox or other small cardboard box. You will need to trim the box so that the device and cable can be inserted through the bottom of the box. You can then store the box in the center console area of your vehicle.

If those reports indicate a failure to comply with interlock requirements, tampering, circumvention or certain other violations, you will receive notification from MVD extending your original interlock requirement for an additional six to 12 months.

When Arizona law mandates use of an interlock following a period of driver license suspension/revocation, you must have one installed by an MVD-authorized company and provide proof of the installation. MVD uses special forms and procedures to monitor drivers required to have the device installed.

DUI Violations

If you requested a hearing with MVD and the suspension was upheld, you may obtain a restricted permit at any MVD office or Authorized Third Party Driver License provider after 30 days of your suspension have been served (if eligible).

Ignition Interlock Devices use sophisticated fuel cell technology to detect alcohol on your breath. But your favorite mouthwash could contain enough alcohol – as much as 27 percent, or 54 proof – to potentially cause a fail notification on your Ignition Interlock.

Does vinegar help pass breathalyzer? ›

Vinegar – Some types of vinegar are made from wine and contain trace amounts of alcohol. Not nearly enough to cause impairment, but possibly enough to lead to a false positive.

Recall 3 means either there's curly cord or vehicle battery problems. The curly cord is what the head unit of your device connects to in your vehicle. Keep in mind that you should NOT ignore the Recall 3 reading on your device!

Fail safe locks are unlocked when the power goes out–i.e., they require power to lock the door. Fail secure locks are locked when the power goes out–i.e., they require power to unlock the door.

For example, if a building catches fire, fail-safe systems would unlock doors to ensure quick escape and allow firefighters inside, while fail-secure would lock doors to prevent unauthorized access to the building. The opposite of fail-closed is called fail-open.

1. Failed breath sample. This is the most common cause of lockouts. If you blow into the device and provide a sample with a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) above what's allowed in your state, it will be read as failed and you won't be able to start your car.

You may not have thought much about the handsanitizer that you used to disinfect your hands before getting in your vehicle,but it is a likely culprit for a failed test. Things like hand sanitizer,deodorizers, air fresheners, and perfume and cologne can result in falsepositives by an IID.

28-3511 - Removal and immobilization or impoundment of vehicle; Arizona crime information center database.

The ignition interlock device cannot identify who is behind the wheel. That means that whoever intends to drive your car has to be taught how to properly operate the ignition interlock device. While it might be easier to disable the IID for other drivers, that's not how the process works.

We wrote previously about what a DUI costs in Arizona, and an interlock breathalyzer is just one of many costs you will face. The breathalyzer installation cost is typically $70 to $150 to install it in a car and then the monthly monitoring and breathalyzer calibration fees are between $60-$80 per month.

How much is interlock per month in Florida? ›

How much does an ignition interlock device cost in Florida? The monthly lease price for an ignition interlock device (IID, car breathalyzer, BAIID) in Florida is $95-125. With a free installation and no additional state fees, you could save over $100 if you choose Intoxalock Ignition Interlock as your IID provider.

Texas Ignition Interlock Devices

The legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit is . 08 percent. If anyone is found driving under the influence with a BAC above that limit, they risk a variety of penalties. There are administrative and financial penalties including license suspension and fines.

28-772 - Vehicle turning left at intersection. The driver of a vehicle within an intersection intending to turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction and that is within the intersection or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate hazard.

A violation of ARS 28-3473 is a Class 1 misdemeanor (as opposed to a Class 1 felony). The crime is punishable by: a jail sentence of up to six months, and/or. a maximum fine of $2,500.

Arizona Revised Statute Section 28-3511 states that a peace officer has the right to remove and either immobilize or impound a vehicle for 30 days if he or she determines that the person driving the vehicle has committed a certain offense, such as: Driving under the influence (extreme DUI and aggravated DUI only)

An ignition interlock camera only takes pictures at designated times. Typically when a user is powering up the interlock, taking the test, and starting the vehicle. Those photos are downloaded with the other ignition interlock data at the regular monitoring and calibration appointment.

The LifeSafer L250 is the most accurate, reliable, and affordable device on the market.