It is a crime to drive after consuming too much alcohol. When a police officer pulls someone over or questions them at the scene of a crash, they will evaluate the driver for signs of chemical impairment. Officers will ask for chemical testing if they believe someone has had too much to drink and will then arrest them for a driving under the influence (DUI) offense if they fail.
The defendant will face serious criminal penalties even when no one got hurt in the incident leading to their arrest. DUI charges in Oklahoma can lead to large fines and jail time. It is also a traffic infraction that can leave you coping with a criminal record for the rest of your life. Losing your license is a common penalty after a DUI charge, and some drivers have to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicles.
These drivers will have restrictions on their driving privileges and will have to pay for the installation and maintenance of the IID in their vehicles. When does the DUI defendant likely have to install an IID?
After a repeat offense
Anyone who has already had their driver’s license suspended before will likely have to install an IID in their vehicle when their license revocation ends. The number of previous offenses will determine how long the state will require the device, but it could be as long as five years. There are also two scenarios in which a first-time DUI charge could lead to an IID requirement.
After a first offense
When someone has lost their license following a first DUI conviction, they may have to install an IID in their vehicle and any employer vehicle that they drive. The first reason that a defendant would need to install an IID after their first DUI charge is because their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was nearly twice the legal limit or higher.
When your BAC is 0.15% or higher, you are subject to a requirement to install an IID in your vehicle after the mandatory period of revocation. Drivers who refuse to perform chemical breath tests may also have to install an IID in their vehicle after a first DUI arrest.
Learning more about how Oklahoma penalizes DUI charges can help those responding to a recent arrest.