How Can a Defendant “Beat” the Interlock?
Aside from the fact that it is a Class A Misdemeanor to do so, this is perhaps the most frequently asked question by probation officers and law enforcement, and it deserves attention. Various universities, including the University of Maryland, have devoted funds and research to the development and efficacy of the ignition interlock system. Studies have proven the interlock to be a very effective tool to deter drinking a driving because drinking and driving is not a premeditative crime; it occurs due to a lack of planning. A person goes out to have a few drinks for fun or to unwind and soon he or she is over the legal limit. How many times have you heard someone say, “I know when I’ve had too much?” the “bravado of the drink” allows the drinker to honestly believe that he or she is sober enough to drive home. The drinker does not call a cab or a friend, deeming himself fit to drive. What if the drinker does ask another person to blow? In addition to being a Class A Misdemeanor, the Stat
