South Carolina Ignition Interlock Device Law

Any driver who has committed at least two DUI offenses must install an interlock device on every vehicle the driver intends to drive. The only exception is for drivers who do not own a personal vehicle but drive a vehicle owned by their employer for purely business use, as long as the driver is not self-employed or employed by a close family member.

If the driver is self-employed or employed by a close family member, he or she must demonstrate that the business's ownership of the vehicle is for a legitimate business purpose and not to get around the purpose of the interlock device requirement.

The device must be installed for 2 years if this is the second DUI offense, 3 years if this the third DUI offense, and for the rest of the driver's life if this is at least the fourth DUI offense. The driver can appeal to the Department of Probation 10 years after the date of his or her last offense to have the device removed. South Carolina law also punishes tampering with an interlock device, providing a sober breath sample for someone else, and knowingly providing a driver who is required to use am interlock device with an unequipped vehicle as misdemeanors.

Ignition Interlock Device Program:

Once a driver has completed his or her initial driver's license suspension and begins the period where he or she may drive with an interlock device, he or she must either participate in the Ignition Interlock Device Program or have their license suspended for an additional 3 years. Once in the program, the South Carolina Department of Probation will apply a system of points for violations of the rules such as failure to report for mandatory inspections, attempting to start a vehicle with a BAC of above 0.02, or failing a random breath test while the car is in motion. At the end of the mandatory interlock device installation period, the Department will total the points accumulated by the driver and add up to 4 months to the duration of the program as well as other restrictions.