Posted by duijim in on September 27, 2026
An ignition interlock device is a small breath-testing device wired into your vehicle’s ignition. Before the engine will start, you must blow into the mouthpiece and provide a breath sample below the programmed threshold — usually a very low alcohol level, not the 0.08 DUI limit. If the device detects alcohol above that threshold, the car will not start, and the failed test is recorded. While you drive, the unit requests random retests, often within the first few minutes and then at intervals, to confirm the driver has not been drinking after the car was started. Every test, pass or fail, is logged and reported.
What an ignition interlock device actually is
An ignition interlock device is a small breath-testing unit installed in your car’s ignition. To start the engine, you must blow into the mouthpiece and provide a sample below the programmed limit. If it detects alcohol above that level, the car will not start, and the failed test is logged. While driving, the device also requests random retests — typically within the first several minutes and then at intervals — to confirm the driver has not been drinking after starting the car.
Who has to install one in Georgia
Ignition interlock is most commonly tied to repeat DUI convictions. Drivers convicted of a second DUI within five years are generally required to use an ignition interlock limited driving permit if they want to drive legally during the suspension period. Judges can also order an interlock as a condition of probation or a limited permit in other cases, including some first-offense situations. The exact requirements depend on the conviction history, the court, and the judge, so treat any general summary — including this article — as a starting point rather than a promise of what will happen in your case.
How the limited driving permit works
The limited driving permit is the main reason most people install the device. After a DUI suspension, Georgia drivers may be eligible for a limited permit that allows driving only for specific purposes: work, school, medical appointments, DUI school, and similar essential destinations. For many repeat offenders, the permit requires an ignition interlock on every vehicle the driver operates. Driving outside the permit’s allowed purposes — or driving a vehicle without the required device — can extend the suspension or bring new criminal charges, so the restrictions deserve to be taken literally.
What it costs
The cost is the part that surprises most people. Installation typically runs in the low hundreds of dollars, and the monthly monitoring and calibration fee commonly falls somewhere between roughly seventy and well over one hundred dollars per month, depending on the provider. Because most drivers keep the device for many months, the total cost can climb into the thousands. There is usually a removal fee at the end of the requirement as well. Providers set their own prices, so comparing a few state-approved installers before committing is worth the effort.
Rules that trip people up
Daily life with an interlock takes adjustment, and small mistakes carry consequences. Only the person driving should ever blow into the device — having someone else provide a sample counts as tampering, which can bring serious penalties in Georgia. Missed or failed rolling retests are logged and reported to the monitoring authority, and a pattern of violations can extend how long the device must stay installed. Everyday products like mouthwash or some foods can cause false positives, so most providers advise waiting a bit after eating, drinking, or using mouthwash before starting the car.
If you are facing a DUI charge and want to understand whether an interlock will be part of your case, speaking with an Atlanta DUI Lawyer early can help you plan for what comes next. An experienced Atlanta DUI Attorney can examine whether the stop and the testing were handled properly and explain which permit options may be available. Choosing a DUI Attorney Atlanta courts see regularly can matter when negotiating conditions like interlock. And a DUI Lawyer Atlanta drivers recommend will be upfront about costs, timelines, and realistic outcomes.