The Risks of Leaving Your Car Running With an Ignition Interlock Device
The Risks of Leaving Your Car Running With an Ignition Interlock Device
[00:00:00] If you are required to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in your vehicle, you might wonder about the practicalities of using it day-to-day. A common question that arises is, “Can I leave my car running for just a few minutes while I run a quick errand?” The answer, as explained in this video, is a firm and resounding no. Leaving your car running and unattended, even for a moment, can lead to a violation and create a significant and stressful legal problem for you.
Understanding the “Rolling Retest” Requirement
[00:00:04] The primary reason you cannot leave your vehicle unattended while it’s running is a feature built into all ignition interlock devices known as the “rolling retest.” After you successfully start your car by blowing into the device, the IID will require you to provide additional breath samples at random intervals while you are driving. This is to ensure that the driver has not consumed alcohol after starting the vehicle. If you are not present in the vehicle when the device calls for one of these random retests, you will miss the test, which is automatically registered as a violation.
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A Real-World Example: How a Violation Can Happen
[00:00:11] To illustrate how easily this can happen, the video shares a true story about a client who worked as a computer repair person. His job required him to make very brief stops at various offices, often for less than three minutes at a time. To save time and keep his car cool, he would leave the engine running during these quick stops. [00:00:35] On one occasion, during the short time he was inside an office, the ignition interlock device in his running car prompted a rolling retest. Because he was not in the vehicle to blow into the machine within the allotted time, the device registered a failed test—a violation of the program’s terms.
[00:00:47] While the law firm was ultimately able to win the subsequent hearing and prevent a revocation of his driving privileges, it required an “unbelievable amount of work and trouble” for the client. They had to gather sworn affidavits from the store employees to confirm his whereabouts and prove that the missed test was not due to alcohol consumption. This entire stressful and time-consuming process could have been avoided entirely.
The Simple Rule to Follow
[00:00:54] The takeaway from this experience is a simple but critical rule for anyone with an ignition interlock device: if you are going to leave your vehicle, you must turn it off. There are no exceptions. The convenience of leaving your car running for a moment is not worth the immense risk of a violation, a potential license revocation, and the legal battle required to fix it. Always err on the side of caution and turn off the ignition every single time you exit the car.
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