The information on Interlock Restricted driver’s licenses with the Colorado Department of Revenue, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) after a DUI, DWAI, drunk driving charge below is provided as a convenience for people that are attempting to get his/her driver’s license reinstated. The information below is not legal advice and cannot be deemed legal advice. Because the laws for DUI, DWAI, or any related drinking and driving offense change on a regular basis, a person charged with DUI, DWAI or any related drinking and driving offense is strongly encourage to research the laws through the Colorado Statutes / Colorado laws for any changes or hire a DUI attorney / DUI lawyer that is familiar with the laws of Colorado. The Law Firm of Black & Graham, LLC has 4 attorneys that provide criminal defense for drinking and driving related offenses, also known as DUI, DWAI, DWI, drunk driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs, or both alcohol and drugs. This law firm provides free consultations for persons with criminal charges under Colorado law.
Interlock Restricted License
Ignition Interlock is a device that is mounted in motor vehicles to prevent persons who attempting to drive after drinking, DUI, or under the influence of alcohol from starting the vehicle. The interlock device requires the driver’s breath sample before the engine will start and the driver is sporadically obligated to deliver breath samples while driving. If the device senses that the driver is drinking the vehicle will not start. Drivers who have lost their driver’s licnese to do drunk driving, DUI, DWAI in this section will be allowed to reinstate their driver’s license only with a restricted license that limits their driving to vehicles with an approved Ignition Interlock device.
Any Interlock restricted driver who either drives a non-equipped vehicle or attempts to evade the normal use of the device will face a driver’s license revocation which includes a penalty of no driving for at least 1 year.
The IID must be examined by a licensed provider at least every 60 days. Failure to have the IID examined every 60 days exposes the ignition interlock required driver to a driver’s license suspension with no driving until that driver comes back into compliance. The DMV will suspend the driving privileges of any driver who is required to have an IID and cancel’s his or her IID lease agreement prior to the end of the IID required period.
If the device detects alcohol on the driver in three of any twelve consecutive months, the interlock restricted driver must keep the interlock device and be under the interlock restriction for an additional year.
Some individuals subject to driving restraints related to DUI, drunk driving, or other drinking and driving issues may be allowed to reinstate their driving privileges ahead of their normal eligibility date if they participate in the Ignition Interlock program.
A driver will be required to have an Ignition Interlock device if they have been convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or refusing to provide a chemical sample of their breath or blood test after an law enforcement officer believes they are DUI, DWAI or driving drunk.
DUI convictions resulting in the requirement of an IID are as follows: 1st Per Se or DUI conviction occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and approved for early reinstatement after serving 30 days requires an 8 month Interlock requirement. A 1st Per Se DUI, for all stops on or after January 1, 2007, conviction with a BAC of .17 or greater requires a 2 year Interlock requirement. A 2nd Per Se (lifetime) DUI conviction or DUI conviction in 5 years requires a 2 year Interlock Requirement. A 3rd + Per Se DUI conviction or DUI conviction in a lifetime requires a 2 year Interlock requirement. A person who has been designated as a Habitual Traffic Offender with one DUI or alcohol related driving offense after July 1, 2000 requires a 4 year interlock requirement after a 1 year revocation and is approved for early reinstatement.
Alcohol Refusal convictions resulting in the requirement of an IID are as follows: A person convicted of a 2nd offense Refusal will have a 1 year interlock requirement after serving 1 year revocation and who is approved for early reinstatement. A person convicted of a 3rd + Refusal offense will have a 2 year interlock requirement after serving 1 year revocation and who is approved for early reinstatement.
Drivers who wish to apply and qualify to DMV for early driving privileges must be Colorado residents, currently have their driving privilege revoked for a 1st DUI Per Se, DUI, or drunk driving conviction and have already served at least 30 days for the alcohol related restraint; or currently have their driving privilege revoked for an drunk driving related restraint that is longer than a year in length and have already served at least one year for the drunk driving related restraint. The driver must have satisfied all reinstatement requirements (other than time length of restriction).
DMV is solely responsible for determining whether or not a driver is eligible for early reinstatement with the Interlock device after a DUI, drunk driving revocation. The Driver Services Section of DMV will make this determination and the criminal courts have nothing to do with this determination. If you would like to find out whether or not you qualify for early reinstatement you may call Driver Services at 303 205-5613 and request examination of your driving record and current status for early reinstatement. The result of the investigation will be available within 2 business days. Drivers must call DMV back to find out if they are appropriate for early reinstatement and what their eligibility date is.
