As you probably know, Florida has severe penalties for motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol. While you may be able to stay out of jail for a first-time offense, you probably cannot avoid losing your driving privileges. To get them back, you might have to install an ignition interlock device on your car, truck or SUV.
IIDs can be extremely inconvenient, of course. After all, if you have one on your vehicle, you have to breathe into the device before it will start. If you have any alcohol in your system, you are likely to be in violation of the IID program’s rules. So, what happens if you tamper with the device?
You will break the law
According to Florida law, it is unlawful to tamper with an IID or otherwise circumvent its functionality. This means you are breaking the law if you ask someone else to breathe into the device. You also break the law if you try to remove your IID without permission to do so.
You could go to jail
Because tampering with an IID is a misdemeanor offense, you could serve up to a year behind bars for doing so. More likely, though, messing with the device is apt to prolong the time until the state fully restores your driving privileges. You even could lose your ability to drive legally altogether.
Because IIDs are smart, you probably cannot tamper with one without having someone find out about your actions. Ultimately, rather than further complicating matters for yourself, it is advisable to comply with all the terms of your IID.