Arizona got serious about drunk driving back in 2007, when one of the country’s first ignition interlock laws went into effect. An ignition interlock, or car breathalyzer, prevents a vehicle from starting if the driver has been drinking. The device has saved many lives since then – by MADD’s reckoning, more than 78,000 drunk driving incidents have been prevented by interlocks in Arizona.
If you have an Arizona ignition interlock installed, there is a program in place that will give you the opportunity to shorten your interlock term – the 6 month deferment.
Essentially, the MVD lets you take 6 months off your Arizona ignition interlock term if you’ve fulfilled some specific requirements:
- Your violation occurred in 2012 or later
- You had no prior DUIs for 7 years
- The DUI did not involve a crash
- You complete an alcohol education program of 16 hours
- You have maintained your ignition interlock device without violations
- You have not tried to drive with a BAC of .08 2 or more times
- All compliance information has been supplied to the Arizona MVD
The deferment program works to everyone’s advantage. Offenders who can prove they approach driving responsibly get a break. And those who are more likely to reoffend will not be able to fulfil the requirements, so the interlock will continue to protect them – and everyone else on Arizona’s roadways.
If you have been successfully completing your Arizona ignition interlock program, you might be able to take advantage of the 6 month deferment program. The purpose of the Arizona ignition interlock requirement, ultimately, is to help those with DUI convictions to drive responsibly. If you’ve been doing that, you might have a break coming. It’s worth a call. Contact our partner QuickStart Ignition Interlock for more information.