If you have been arrested for and charged with a drunk driving offense in Mississippi, you may feel very scared and unsure of what to expect next. First, you should remember that being arrested does not mean that you will automatically be convicted of the crime you were arrested for. Second, learning about the potential consequences associated with the offense can help you be prepared should you have to experience them.
One thing often associated with a drunk driving conviction is the loss of driving privileges. However, you may reinstate your driving privileges if you install and use an ignition interlock device. As explained by Intoxalock, an IID provider, these devices connect to your vehicle’s ignition and keep it in a locked mode until you provide a clean breath sample. After that, you may start and drive the vehicle.
IIDs may alert you to the need to take subsequent tests while you are actively driving. These happen randomly and you will never know when to expect them so always be ready. You should avoid drinking or eating anything other than water when driving as certain foods or beverages may interfere with the breath test results. An IID cannot turn your car engine off but it can set off alarms or alerts if you fail a random test.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to let residents in Mississippi understand how an ignition interlock device works so they can be properly prepared if they are ultimately required to install and use such a device.
