Life can get pretty confusing after a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. You made the choice to drink and drive, and although you readily admit it was a mistake, there are still fines to pay, alcohol counseling to attend, and a license suspension to wait out. The idea of ‘normal’ life may seem far away, but you’ll find installing and following the Guardian Interlock program will be the easiest part of your DUI charge to fulfill.
Once you have your Guardian Interlock installed, you’ll probably wonder how much, if any, you can drink before you blow into it. Can you, for example, have a glass of wine with dinner and still drive your vehicle after?
Although the answer will depend on your state, for most the answer is no. State laws require that an ignition interlock device like your Guardian Interlock detect a predetermined level of alcohol. The level it detects is a lot lower than the legal limit of .08 for DUI or driving while intoxicated (DWI), and because that glass of wine will affect everyone differently, it’s safer to not attempt to drive after drinking any amount of alcohol.
So if a glass of wine with dinner is out, just how sensitive is an interlock device? Although all interlock devices will only detect alcohol and the sensitivity of the interlock is determined by the state in which you live, you may find your Guardian Interlock will be affected by trace residue left by types of alcohol not found in beer, wine, or spirits. Take Listerine mouthwash for example – it’s best to not gargle with mouthwash before you try to start your vehicle because you may just trigger a false-positive reading.
People make mistakes in life, and you want to learn from your DUI and move on. Although you can’t have a glass of wine with dinner and still drive with your Guardian Interlock, having the interlock device installed in your vehicle and using it properly will play an important part in your commitment to never get behind the wheel drunk again.
