Suppose you have been handed an IRP, an ADP or are facing criminal charges regarding drunk driving. In that case, there is a possibility you will have to get an Ignition Interlock device installed in your car once you get it back and after your prohibition has ended. This blog post will outline some important things that are considered when the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles is deciding on a referral and some things to be aware of as a prohibited driver.
Ignition Interlock Device; What is it?
The Superintendent is the one that will decide if a driver is going to be referred to the Ignition Interlock Program (IIP). Essentially, the device prevents a car from starting if it detects any alcohol on a driver’s breath. It is installed in the vehicle in a way for the driver to have to blow into it while sitting behind the wheel.
It also comes with a tracking system that keeps a record of the driver’s results, and in cases where alcohol is detected on numerous different blows, it could result in an extension in the program.
How do I know if I will be referred?
The Superintendent will refer a person to the IIP if, over the course of 5 years, they have had two driving prohibitions that have resulted in at least nine remedial points.
An IRP, ADP and a criminal charge all have a penalty of six remedial points. To be referred to the IIP, you would have to get another charge that carried a weight of at least three remedial points within the five-year time period. These include a 3,7 or 30-day IRP.
The length of time you will be required to have the Ignition Interlock device in your car will vary depending on the number of remedial points you have, and the more you have, the longer you will have the device.
IIP Costs
It is already well known that an IRP or an ADP comes accompanied by financial burdens due to paying for the release of a car or a license reinstatement cost. An IIP is another costly consequence that could come from a drunk driving prohibition, and just like the burdens mentioned above, an IIP also comes at the expense of the driver.
Overall, throughout your time in the program, you have to pay a daily monitoring charge of $2.67; hypothetically, if someone were to be enrolled in the program for 12 months, that would cost a person nearly $1000.
And that is not the only cost they could be facing either. On top of the daily charge, the driver is responsible for covering the installation of the device ($145), the removal fee when they are done with the program ($50) and a one-time administration fee ($105).
If a person qualifies for early removal of the device, whether that be their own choice or administrator’s decision, they will be charged $188 for an early removal fee.
At the end of the day, an IIP is a costly and time-consuming program. But there are ways to prevent it from ever getting to the stage where you need to install the device.
If you believe you have been wrongly handed a driving prohibition, do not hesitate to contact one of our offices ASAP to ensure yourself a fighting chance.