If a person in Chester County receives a DUI, they may be facing an ignition interlock. This is the machine installed in vehicles that measures a person's BAC. If alcohol is detected on the machine, they are incapable of starting the vehicle. The ignition interlock is controlled by 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3805, which states that an interlock ignition may be required if,
... a person violates section 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) and, within the past ten years, has a prior offense as defined in section 3806(a) (relating to prior offenses) or has had their operating privileges suspended pursuant to section 1547(b.1) (relating to chemical testing to determine amount of alcohol or controlled substance) or 3808(c) (relating to illegally operating a motor vehicle not equipped with ignition interlock) and the person seeks a restoration of operating privileges
So, what is a prior offense? It is stated in 3806,
the term "prior offense" as used in this chapter shall mean a conviction, adjudication of delinquency, juvenile consent decree, acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or other form of preliminary disposition before the sentencing on the present violation for any of the following:
This is serious business and requires a Chester County DUI lawyer. The cost alone for a interlock ignition can be $1000.(1) an offense under section 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance);
(2) an offense under former section 3731;
(3) an offense substantially similar to an offense under paragraph (1) or (2)