What is "Interlock?"
An Ignition Interlock is a device that is installed on motor vehicles to prohibit individuals from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. It requires your breath sample before the engine will start and you are periodically required to provide breath samples while driving. If the device detects an elevated alcohol concentration level, the vehicle will not start.
What does "DUI Per Se" mean?
§ 42-4-1300.3.(3) C.R.S. defines "DUI per se" as meaning "driving with a BAC of 0.08 or more, and use of the term shall incorporate by reference the offense described in section 42-4-1301(2)(a)."
Important Information
Legislation, effective January 1, 2014, has significantly changed previous law involving alcohol violations, Persistent Drunk Drivers (PDD) and the Ignition Interlock program. Those changes include:
- The reduction of the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) on a chemical test from 0.17 to 0.15 to designate the driver as a Persistent Drunk Driver.
- The refusal of a chemical test at a traffic stop on or after, January 1, 2014, will now result in a Persistent Drunk Driver designation.
- If a driver refused a chemical test prior to January 1, 2014, and was previously ineligible to reinstate early with Interlock, they may now either finish serving the remainder of their revocation and reinstate with full driving privileges, or serve at least two months and apply for early reinstatement with Interlock for one year. They are not eligible for Financial Assistance in this case.
- If a driver has multiple alcohol violations or refusals on their record, the wait time for early reinstatement with Interlock has been reduced to up to two months.
You Will Be Required to Have an Ignition Interlock Device if:
You were Arrested for Driving Under the Influence before January 1, 2023
- 1st Per Se or DUI conviction,
- May be eligible to reinstate early after serving one month of revocation - 2 year interlock requirement with BAC above .15
- May be eligible to reinstate early after serving one month of revocation - 8 month Interlock requirement with low BAC
- 1st Per Se if under a separate driving restraint
- May be eligible to reinstate early after either an 8 month interlock requirement (2 years for PDD Designation) or the remainder of the longest restraint period and approved by the Department for early reinstatement.
- 2nd+ Per Se
- 2 Year Interlock Required
- May reinstate early after serving one month, 2 year Interlock requirement. (See Early Reinstatement with Interlock)
- 2 Year Interlock Required
You were Arrested for Driving Under the Influence on or after January 1, 2023
- 1st Per Se or DUI conviction,
- May be eligible to reinstate early on the first day the revocation action goes active - 2 year interlock requirement with BAC above .15
- May be eligible to reinstate early on the first day the revocation action goes active – 9-month Interlock requirement with BAC below 0.149 (9-month revocation period and interlock requirement runs concurrently)
- 1st Per Se if under a separate driving restraint
- May be eligible to reinstate early after either a 9 month interlock requirement (2 years for PDD Designation) or the remainder of the longest restraint period and approved by the Department for early reinstatement.
- 2nd+ Per Se
- 2 Year Interlock Required
- May reinstate early on the first day the action goes active, 2 year Interlock requirement. (See Early Reinstatement with Interlock)
- May reinstate early on the first day the action goes active, 2 year Interlock requirement. (See Early Reinstatement with Interlock)
- 2 Year Interlock Required
You Refused to Submit to Chemical Testing
- Automatic 2 year Interlock requirement
- May be eligible to reinstate early:
- 1st offense: After serving two months, 2 year interlock requirement
- 2nd offense: After serving two months, 2 year interlock requirement
- 3rd+ Offense: After serving two months, 2 year interlock requirement
Additional Information for Drivers Designated as Habitual Traffic Offenders
If you are convicted of 3 "qualifying offenses" which occurred over a 7 year period of time (based on date of violation, not conviction), your license will be revoked for 5 years.
Qualifying offenses" include, but are not limited to:
- Driving under suspension or revocation
- Driving while ability impaired (DWAI)
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Reckless driving
- Vehicular assault
- Vehicular homicide
You may be eligible for early reinstatement with an interlock requirement for a minimum of 1 year or the remainder of the restraint period if:
- You have at least one contributing alcohol driving offense on or after 07/01/2000, AND,
- You have served up to 2 months of revocation and been approved for early reinstatement by the department.
For more information, or to see if you qualify for early reinstatement, please call 303-205-5613.
Consequences of Non-Compliance and Enforcement
Any Interlock-restricted driver who either drives a non-equipped vehicle or attempts to circumvent the proper functioning of the interlock device is subject to a license revocation with no driving for at least one year.
The Interlock device must be serviced every sixty days. An Interlock-restricted driver who fails to report for device servicing is subject to a license suspension with no driving until that driver comes back into compliance. Any driver whose interlock lease is cancelled by the provider or before the driver's requirement is completed will be suspended until the driver enters into a new lease agreement.
If the device prevents operation of the vehicle after detecting alcohol in three of any twelve consecutive months, you may be subject to suspension and additional time on your interlock requirement, up to one year for each set of three fails.