Ignition interlock devices prevent a driver who has been drinking from starting or driving a vehicle. California law now makes the devices mandatory in certain Los Angeles DUI cases, ignition interlock devices can also be a potent negotiating tool in obtaining a favorable plea bargain. A skilled Los Angeles DUI attorney from The Kavinoky Law Firm may be able to negotiate a favorable settlement to your drunk driving case using an ignition interlock device as a bargaining chip.

If you're facing a first-time Los Angeles DUI charge and an ignition interlock device is optional, your attorney may be able to arrange the use of the device as a sentencing alternative to help you avoid jail or a suspended driver's license. If you agree to have an ignition interlock device installed, you may be able to remain at home and continue driving as long as you remain alcohol-free behind the wheel.

If you're facing a second or subsequent Los Angeles DUI charge within 10 years, installation of an ignition interlock device is now mandatory. They are even required in many first-offense Los Angeles DUI cases. However, even if ignition interlock use is mandatory in your drunk driving case, a skilled Los Angeles DUI attorney might be able to negotiate an agreement that substitutes your use of the device for stricter repercussions.

Ignition interlock devices operate simply - in order to start your car, you must provide a breath sample that shows that your blood alcohol content (BAC) is below a certain level - usually zero. The ignition interlock device is protected with tamper-free tape and requires that you use a certain breathing technique to operate it. California law makes it a crime to help anyone to disable an ignition interlock or to blow into the tube to start the car for someone else.

Once your car is in motion, you'll be required to perform "rolling re-tests" periodically to keep the vehicle running. Rolling retests are designed to ensure that the driver is the same person who provided the initial breath sample and remains alcohol-free. The equipment is programmed to record each test and any attempts to tamper with it.

The state's leader in providing ignition interlock technology is Smart Start of California, a division of the Texas-based ignition interlock pioneer, Smart Start. To answer any questions about ignition interlock devices or to schedule an appointment, please call Smart Start today at (800) 880-3394.