Our readers in Wisconsin likely know that one of the potential penalties for a drunk driving conviction is a court-order to have an “ignition interlock device” installed in any vehicle the offender might drive, once the person’s driver’s license is re-instated. For those who do not know, an ignition interlock device, or “IID” for short, is a device that can be installed in vehicles in which a driver must blow into a tube for an instant blood alcohol content test of the breath sample. If the breath sample reads that the sample contains any traces of alcohol, the car cannot be started. The goal of these devices, obviously, is to prevent those who have recently been convicted of DUI charges from taking to the roads under the influence again.
However, a recent news report seems to indicate that these devices can be sidestepped. How? Well, as the recent report notes, the convicted driver can simply use another person’s car to drive, such as a friend or family member. Yes, the driver may have had the IID installed in the vehicle the driver actually owns, but that doesn’t mean that that vehicle is the only vehicle the driver can operate. The recent news report calls this a “loophole” in DUI enforcement laws in Wisconsin.
As is typical when it comes to DUI laws, the suggested remedy should be familiar to our readers: increased punishment for offenders who are caught operating a vehicle that does not have an IID installed. The recent news report notes that a state senator has written proposed legislation to this effect.
The consequences of a DUI conviction can be severe, which is why Wisconsin residents who are facing these charges need to make sure that they have a sound criminal defense strategy. As the recent report notes, the consequences for a DUI conviction in Wisconsin may be about to get even more severe.
