If you drink and drive, you could face severe consequences for this crime. For example, you may have to spend time in jail, pay a significant fine and perform community service.
Another consequence of drinking and driving in New York is the requirement to use an ignition interlock device. According to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, all drivers convicted of DWI have to use and maintain an IID in any vehicle they use or own for 12 months after the conviction.
The law in New York
After a drinking and driving conviction, you must pay for the use and maintenance of the IID in your car for the entire 12-month period. However, the court may allow you to stop using one of these devices in your vehicle after six months of use, unless they determine that you need to use it for a longer period of time.
Understanding the IID
Upon installation, an IID gets connected to your car’s ignition system. Every time you go to turn on your car, you have to breathe into the device for it to measure the alcohol content in your breath. If there is a measurable amount of alcohol in your breath sample, your vehicle will not start.
If the court orders you to use an IID after a DWI conviction, do not tamper with this device or have someone else breathe into the system so you can drive if intoxicated. This may result in additional penalties on top of the ones from the initial DWI.