A reported loophole in state DUI laws may allow some individuals to skirt the ignition interlock requirement. Individuals who are charged with drunk driving, but who have to drive for a living, may receive a waiver of the ignition interlock requirements from their employers, reports KEPR TV.

Washington Ignition Interlock Requirement

If you've been convicted of a DUI, you may be ordered to install an ignition interlock device into your vehicle. These devices are typically installed in your dashboard. Before starting your car, you will be required to blow into the device to prove that you had not been drinking. If you successfully start your car, you will also be required to periodically blow into the device to ensure that you have remained sober.

While ignition interlock devices are far from perfect, they have proved useful in preventing repeat drunk drivers from getting behind the wheels drunk.

Ignition Interlock Waivers

Employers may sign an ignition interlock waiver on behalf of an employee who needs to drive for work in a company car. The waiver is only a simple one-page form from the Department of Licensing. And based on the news report, more than 5,000 waivers have been signed by employers since 2009. Surprisingly, about ten percent of all waivers were from government employers like the US Postal Service. There is no requirement that employers who sign such a waiver take extra steps to protect the public from a DUI offender.

Contact a Seattle DUI Attorney

If you have any questions about an ignition interlock device and the requirements for a waiver, contact a Seattle DUI attorney at Wolff Criminal Defense. Schedule a consultation with an attorney by calling 425-284-2000.