With ignition interlock becoming much more important after the recent changes to administrative license suspensions, I decided to learn more about what our clients who have DUI charges in Gwinnett County might be facing. In order to learn more about ignition interlock equipment, installation, and monitoring, I visited with the nice people over at Gwinnett Interlock Systems in Lawrenceville at their open house held on July 15, 2017.
New Georgia Law Allowing Ignition Interlock In Administrative License Suspension Cases
To understand why ignition interlock has become much more important recently, it’s important to understand some changes in the law people face when facing DUI charges in Atlanta. If you are facing an administrative license suspension hearing as a result of a DUI charge in Georgia, the law underwent sweeping changes which went into effect July 1, 2017. These changes allow people who have been charged with DUI in Georgia and are facing an administrative license suspension 30 days to file for an appeal hearing to an administrative license suspension. Within that 30 days, people need to make a choice with advice from their Atlanta DUI attorney to have an administrative license suspension hearing or to choose to have an ignition interlock device installed into their car for 12 months.
Whether to have an administrative license suspension hearing or install the interlock device is a big decision and should be made with advice from a good Gwinnett County DUI attorney. You can read more about that decision in this other post in our series regarding the new laws.
One of the aspects regarding whether to elect to install an ignition interlock device if charged with DUI in Gwinnett County is the process of actually installing and monitoring the equipment.
Ignition Interlock Device Equipment in Gwinnett County
I’m happy to say that Gwinnett Interlock Systems utilizes Lifesafer DUI ignition interlock devices. These systems are very reliable and small. The systems are small enough that they can be installed under the dash of most cars without being visible. The only visible component of the ignition interlock device is the actual mouthpiece. This will hang down on a chord outside of the dashboard. It’s not overly obtrusive.
Ignition Interlock Device Installation in Gwinnett County
According to Matthews, installation for an ignition interlock device can be completed in about two hours. Again, installation occurs under the dash of the car. There should be no damage to the car during installation. Installation costs $75.00.
Ignition Interlock Device Month Monitoring in Gwinnett County
Monthly monitoring of the ignition interlock device for people who have them installed as a result of DUI charges in Gwinnett County is required. Monthly monitoring of the ignition interlock device will log the times, if any, a person failed after blowing into the mouthpiece. The monthly monitoring will make sure that the device isn’t being tampered with and that the device is functioning properly. According to Matthews, monitoring can be accomplished in a half hour and costs $75.00 per month.
If you’re charged with DUI in Gwinnett County and are thinking about installing an ignition interlock device, our Gwinnett County DUI attorneys highly recommend Gwinnett Interlock Systems. They can be reached at 678-373-3026.
We are a Norcross based law firm that specializes in Gwinnett County traffic ticket defense. We help people charged with speeding tickets and traffic citations in Gwinnett County Recorders Court on a weekly basis.