Ignition interlock violations: what happens next

The device logs every test, and the log is downloaded at each service visit so it can be reported to the court or agency supervising your order. A failed test, a missed retest or tampering can each count as a violation, and depending on the state that can extend the order, trigger a lockout fee or put your license at risk.

Updated Oct 23, 2026How we check

How many interlock violations can you have? It depends on the state

From each state's statute or program page, for the 19 states we've finished checking.

State	Violations
Alabama	Three things count as violations: four or more breath samples of 0.02 or higher in a monthly reporting period (unless a retest within 10 minutes is lower), tampering or attempted tampering, and missing a 30-day servicing or calibration visit. Violations extend your interlock term by six months.¹
Arizona	Tampering, circumventing the device or failing to provide proof of compliance can extend your interlock restricted license by six months. A reading of 0.08 or higher during an extension also triggers a consequence.²
California	Driving without an interlock during your restriction period can lead to a citation, a conviction, and a suspension or revocation. Missing the 60-day calibration leads to a DL 921 non-compliance report and a suspension or revocation until you get a new DL 920.³
Colorado	Driving a vehicle without an interlock or tampering with the device leads to revocation, and you cannot drive for at least one year. Skipping service past 60 days or letting your lease lapse leads to suspension until you fix it.⁴
Connecticut	The DMV adds 30 days to your interlock requirement for each violation, and some violations can also lead to a license suspension. Violations include a tampering conviction, having someone else blow into the device, driving without one, removing it without authorization, and vendor-reported problems such as skipping service for more than 5 days, failing a rolling retest or a startup BAC of 0.05 or higher.⁵
Idaho	After a second or further violation within 10 years and a 1-year mandatory suspension, you may drive only a vehicle with a working interlock. The sources we reviewed do not state how long that lasts.⁶
Kansas	Tampering with or circumventing the device is a class A nonperson misdemeanor. A first conviction extends your restriction 90 days, and a second or later conviction restarts the original restriction period.⁷
Maryland	Each month with a violation can add 30 days, and some violations in the last 3 months can add 90 days. Serious violations can lead to removal from the program, and coming back after a 30-day suspension means serving the full original time.⁸
Minnesota	Tampering, circumvention, driving a vehicle without a device or breaking program guidelines leads to revocation and a longer interlock period: 180 days for a first violation, 1 year for a second and 545 days for a third or later. Tampering is also a misdemeanor.⁹
Missouri	A conviction for driving without a required device revokes your driving privilege for 1 year the first time and 5 years the second time, according to MoDOT. If you fail to keep proof of the device, your license is suspended again. Lending or renting a vehicle without a device to someone with this restriction is a class A misdemeanor (RSMo 577.600).¹⁰
New Jersey	Failing to install a court-ordered device can add a one-year suspension. Removing the device early leads to a suspension that lasts until you file a new interlock certificate.¹¹
Ohio	Two things count as violations: the device blocking a start because it detected alcohol, and tampering or circumvention. The court may double your suspension and interlock period, and a violation within 60 days of the end of your suspension adds 60 days.¹²
Oregon	Failure to comply, tampering and circumvention count as violations, and so do any alcohol reading above 0.020 at start and failed or missed retests. The DMV is notified and your original requirement is extended.¹³
Pennsylvania	Driving a vehicle without an interlock extends your period by 12 months on a first offense, and a second or later offense brings a recalled license and a 12-month suspension. Failing to make your vehicle available for maintenance or removing the device without authorization leads the vendor to notify PennDOT, which recalls the license.¹⁴
Tennessee	Violations include removing the device early, going 30 days without service, tampering or circumvention, a start attempt above .020 BrAC, a failed random retest above .020 and a skipped retest. Removal or tampering can restart the 365-day clock, and a photo-confirmed high-BrAC or missed-test violation in the final 120 days can add 120 days. A dispute process exists.¹⁵
Utah	Breath violations and failing to calibrate or monitor the device on schedule (every 60 days under the statute) each add a 60-day extension for violations since May 3, 2023.¹⁶
Virginia	Counted violations include not following the program, such as missing monitoring or calibration due at least every 30 days, and tampering or circumventing the device. The court may revoke your driving privilege unless there is good cause, and circumvention is a Class 1 misdemeanor.¹⁷
Washington	Counted violations include a start attempt at 0.04 or higher, a missed random test, a failed retest at 0.020 or higher, failing to appear for service, and removal by a non-certified technician. A conviction under RCW 46.20.740 or 46.20.750 extends the restriction by 180 days, and any violation in the final 180-day window defeats compliance-based removal.¹⁸
Wisconsin	Tampering with the device, removing it, or failing to install it is an IID violation with a fine of $350 to $1,100 and 5 days to 6 months in jail under Wis. Stat. 343.302. A reading at or above the 0.02 setpoint or a failed retest is also recorded as a violation, a reset within 7 days costs a fee, and from September 1, 2027 each listed event extends your order by 180 days.¹⁹

Rolling retests

Most devices ask for another breath sample while you drive. Missing one can be logged as a violation.

State	Retest rules
Connecticut	The device asks for random retests while you drive, and it needs calibration every 25 to 30 days.²⁰
Kansas	Turning the vehicle off to avoid a rolling retest is a violation under the statute.²¹
Maryland	The device asks for random retests while you drive, and you do not need to pull over to take one.²²
Oregon	The device asks for additional breath samples while you drive. After an alcohol violation you have 10 minutes to give a passing sample.²³
Pennsylvania	Before you can finish the program, the vendor's declaration has to show no failed or missed required retests in the prior 60 days.²⁴
Tennessee	The device asks for random retests while you drive. A BrAC above 0.02% or a skipped retest counts as a violation.²⁵
Virginia	The device asks for retests while you drive, set at 0.02. A failed or missed retest sounds the horn and flashes the lights.²⁶
Washington	The device asks for random retests, and a failed retest at 0.02 or higher is a violation. A 10-minute retest exception exists.²⁷
Wisconsin	Failing a rolling retest while you are driving records a violation and activates alert mode, which sets off the lights and horn.²⁸

What an interlock lockout costs

After a failed test or missed retest, many devices lock and need a service visit or an unlock code. These are the reset and lockout fees companies publish or file with New York State.

Company	Lockout and violation fees
Smart Start	$80.00 · Service lockout fee · Filed in New York²⁹ $80.00 · Violation lockout fee · Filed in New York³⁰ $63.00 · Unlock code · Filed in New York³¹
Intoxalock	$75.00 · Lockout reset fee · Filed in New York³² $40.00 · Reset/recal fee · Filed in New York³³
LifeSafer	$56.25 · Lockout override or violation fee · Class 1, filed in New York, Feb 2025 v2 schedule³⁴
RoadGuard	$75.00 · Violation reset · Filed in New York³⁵ $25.00 · Unlock device code (lockout) · Filed in New York³⁶
Low Cost Interlock	$125 · Unlock code after a lockout · National, varies by state and vehicle³⁷ $200 · Tampering or bypass · National, varies by state and vehicle³⁸ $125 · Typical lockout or reset fee (from the FAQ) · National³⁹

If you think the device got it wrong

Write down the time, what you'd eaten or used, and any retest result, then call the company and ask for the service record. The guide on failing a test when you haven't been drinking covers what can register on a sober breath test.

More guides

Sources

violations "shall extend the duration of IID Term use for six months."alea.gov/dps/driver-license/license-and-id-cards/ignition-interlock-laws
at least once every ninety daysazleg.gov/ars/28/01461.htm
dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-education-and-safety/dmv-safety-guidelines-actions/driv
dmv.colorado.gov/ignition-interlock-restricted-license
the DMV extends your IID requirement by 30 days for each violation.portal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/license-suspension/ignition-interlock-progra
required to drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock systemlegislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch80/sect18-8005
restart the original ignition interlock restriction periodksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch08/008_010_0017.html
Each month with a violation can add 30 days.mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/ignition-interlock-program
180 days for a first violation;revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/171.306
revoked for five yearsmodot.org/node/462
may result in an additional one year driving privilege suspensionnj.gov/mvc/pdf/violations/interlock-faq.pdf
the court is increasing the offender's suspension by sixty dayscodes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4510.46
Your vehicle will not start if it detects any source alcohol above 0.020.oregon.gov/osp/programs/Pages/Ignition-Interlock-Device-Program.aspx
For a first offense, an individual's Ignition Interlock period is extended for one-year from the date of conviction.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/penndot/documents/public/dvspubsforms/bd
may result in a 120 day extension of the time you are required to maintain the interlock.safetysupport.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/25739673706643-What-is-a-Violation
results in a 60-day extension to the ignition interlock restricted driver for each violation.dld.utah.gov/iid
A violation of this subsection is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter7/section18.2-270.1
Any attempt to start the vehicle with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.04 or moreapp.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx
shall be extended by 180 days for each occurrencedocs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/343.301.pdf
every 25-30 days for calibrationportal.ct.gov/dmv/licenses-permits-ids/license-suspension/ignition-interlock-progra
turning the vehicle off to avoid submitting to the rolling retestksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch08/008_010_0015.html
Random retests while driving. No need to pull over.mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/ignition-interlock-program
Additional samples must be provided within 10 minutes.oregon.gov/osp/programs/Pages/Ignition-Interlock-Device-Program.aspx
Failure to take or pass any required retest.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.038.005.000..HTM
Fail a random retest with a BrAC in excess of 0.02%tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/Rules_of_Ignition_Interlock.pdf
triggers the sounding of the horn and flashing of lightslaw.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter7/section18.2-270.1
Failed retests at 0.02 or higher follow the same camera-verified exception. (summary)wsp.wa.gov/interlock
FAIL the next rolling retest samplewisconsindot.gov/Documents/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvkd/violations.pdf
Service Lockout Feecriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Smart Start- NY State Pricing Schedule 04242025.pdf
Violation Lockout Feecriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Smart Start- NY State Pricing Schedule 04242025.pdf
Unlock Codecriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Smart Start- NY State Pricing Schedule 04242025.pdf
Lockout Reset Feecriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Intoxalock-Device-and-Fee-Schedule-8-15-2021.pdf
Reset Recal Feecriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Intoxalock-Device-and-Fee-Schedule-8-15-2021.pdf
Lockout Override/Violation Feecriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/LifeSafer NY_Pricing 123 February 2025 v2.pdf
Violation Resetcriminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Draeger-Device-and-Fee-Schedule-8-15-2021.pdf
Unlock device code (Lockout)criminaljustice.ny.gov/opca/pdfs/Draeger-Device-and-Fee-Schedule-8-15-2021.pdf
Unlock codelowcostinterlock.com/ignition-interlock-pricing
Tampering or bypasslowcostinterlock.com/ignition-interlock-pricing
Typical Lockout or Reset Fees are $125lowcostinterlock.com/faqs