What are North Carolina’s interlock device laws?

If you are pulled over, charged and convicted of driving while intoxicated in North Carolina, the courts may require you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. Ignition interlock devices are designed to keep convicted offenders from committing repeat offenses.

Interlock devices also give those who have a suspended driver’s licenses the ability to drive to work, school or run errands. You can avoid receiving further offenses and have a form of transportation.

How do ignition interlock devices work?

Interlock devices are wired directly into the ignition system of your car. Before starting your vehicle, you must exhale through a tube connected to a dashboard monitor. This measures your blood alcohol level. If your BAC level is above 0.04, the car will not start, according to North Carolina legislation. If you have multiple attempts to start the car with an elevated BAC level, the car locks up for a certain amount of time. All of the information, including BAC levels, dates and times of startup attempts and lockouts are recorded within the system and transmitted to law enforcement during your routine maintenance appointments.

It is important to keep in mind that you are responsible for all costs associated with the interlock device, including installation fees, registration, maintenance appointments and any other expenses.

What are interlock device penalties in the state?

While some states require all DWI offenders to have an interlock device installed, North Carolina only requires those with a blood alcohol content level of 0.15 or higher and repeat offenders to do so, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. If you are required to have an IID in your vehicle and are found driving a car that does not have an IID or you have someone else exhale into your IID in order to start your car, you must surrender your driver’s license.