As of this past Sunday, August 15, 2010, drivers convicted of DWI or DWAI in the State of New York will be required to install in their vehicle, and all vehicles which they own or have access to (household vehicles), an ignition interlock device. For those who do not know, an ignitiion interlock device is a device which is must be blown into by the vehicle’s operator, before the vehicle will start. Quite simply, the device measures your sobriety, and if your blood alcohol level measures above.025, the vehicle will not start.
Notably, with rare exception, those convicted of a DWI or DWAI offense will be required to install the device at their own expense, and must pay the monthly fees associated with maintaining that device for the period of suspension, or in some cases, the entire probation period for the convicted driver. On average, the device costs between $100 and $200 to install and the monthly fees for maintaining the device will average between $70 and $100 dollars.