Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices are something that can be confusing to any number of people unfamiliar with driver's license reinstatements in the State of Illinois. Commonly referred to as a "BAIID," people have to use these devices when they are residents of the State of Illinois and are given a permit to drive, such as a Restricted Driving Permit. There are lots of misconceptions about BAIID devices in relation to driver's licenses in Illinois, and navigating the process, figuring out answers to questions, and knowing what to expect can be difficult.
For those readers who are unfamiliar, a BAIID device is one into which a person has to blow into in order to start his or her motor vehicle and while driving. It measures the alcohol content in a persons' breath, and is hard-wired into the vehicle. If a person blows over a certain amount, such as after drinking, then the car either will not start or, if in motion when the blow was given, the vehicle will begin honking the horn and flashing the lights. A lot of people with whom we speak about their driver's licenses have misconceptions about these devices, which deserve to be cleared up. To begin, it is true that a BAIID device only registers whether or not a person has alcohol in his or her system, and it does not test for drugs. It is also true that anytime anyone has a Restricted Driving Permit in the State of Illinois, he or she will be required to have a BAIID device installed into his or her car. This is true regardless of the basis of revocation, and remains true even when the basis of revocation was for a DUI offense that did not involve alcohol at all, such as when it was a drug-related DUI.
There are any number of manufacturers of BAIID devices, but their sophistication and reliability has steadily improved over the years. As a result, there is a lot of old, out-of-date information available online about their reliability that is no longer true, which, unfortunately, people still rely on. For example, years ago people had problems with their BAIID devices draining their vehicle battery, but this rarely happens today. One of the changes that came in recent years was the routine use of cameras. Every BAIID device now has a camera affixed to it, or connected to it but placed on the windshield. This camera records the person giving the breath test, and can be cross-referenced for every blow, usually even years later.
In addition, many people wonder whether or not someone else can drive their vehicle if a BAIID device is installed into it. The answer is that anyone can drive a vehicle with a BAIID device installed, but they are still subject to having to blow into the device in order to start and continue operating the vehicle. We help people understand BAIID devices every day, and we help them figure out issues they have with them. We are available to advise anyone needing help with—or even needing information about—a BAIID device, so call us today.
Copyright © 2017 by Brendan Bukalski
The information provided in this article is general in nature, and should not be relied upon as legal advice or interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship . As a general rule, all specific legal problems should be handled by an individual's attorney. All rights reserved. Any copying, duplication, or commercial use of the information contained in this column is strictly prohibited without prior permission.