Mandatory Ignition Interlock Bill for 1st Offense DWI

The North Carolina General Assembly is proposing a mandatory ignition interlock law on any first offense DWI conviction. House Bill 1489 has been passed signed off on by the House Science and Technology Committee, and currently sits in the Committee on Judiciary for further action.If the bill becomes law, North Carolina would join nine other states that currently require these systems for any 1st offense drunk driving conviction. There is also a provision in a pending Federal Highway Bill that would require such a law to be enacted for states to be eligible for federal highway funds, but that requirement hasn’t passed as yet.

An ignition interlock device (IID) is a system that prevents a car from starting if the driver doesn’t provide a “clean” breath sample. It is a rolling breathalyzer system in your car.

Under current NC law, these devices are only mandated after a 2nd offense conviction, or a “high BAC” level of .15% BAC, or nearly twice the legal blood alcohol limit of .08%.

Critics argue that a 1st offense DWI requirement is harsh and extremely intrusive for someone who may have made a one time mistake, and was barely over the limit. The majority of auto accidents where alcohol is considered a primary factor are when the driver has a high BAC, and their driving ability is significantly impaired.

If you are accused of a drunk driving/DWI offense in North Carolina, please contact our defense attorneys for a consultation. We can protect your rights and fight to save your driver’s license.