Frequently Asked Questions

Anyone convicted of a DUI, DWAI, or DUI per se in Colorado is required to install an ignition interlock device as a condition of license reinstatement. You may also be required to install one if you refused a chemical test, even without a conviction. Your DMV reinstatement letter will specify whether an interlock is required in your case.

The required duration depends on your offense:

• First DUI (after Jan 1, 2009): 8 months minimum — eligible for early reinstatement after 30 days of full compliance
• First DUI with BAC of .17 or higher: 2 years
• Second or third DUI: 2 years
• Habitual Traffic Offender with one alcohol-related offense after July 1, 2000: 4 years

Your clock starts the day you are issued your interlock-restricted license by the DMV — not the day of installation.

Monthly device lease fees typically range from $70–$80/month, which includes periodic calibration. Additional costs may include:

• Installation labor fee (varies by vehicle)
• DMV reinstatement fees
• SR-22 insurance surcharge from your insurer
• Alcohol education class fees (if required by your case)

Call us at 970‑515‑5740 for pricing specific to your situation.

Colorado interlock devices are set to prevent the vehicle from starting if your breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) is 0.02% or higher — well below Colorado's legal driving limit of 0.08%. This means even small amounts of alcohol from certain mouthwashes, foods, or medications can register. Always rinse your mouth with water before testing.

An SR‑22 is a certificate of financial responsibility filed by your insurance company directly with the Colorado DMV. It is not a type of insurance — it's proof you carry the required liability coverage. Most DUI/DWAI convictions require one. Contact your insurer and ask them to submit it electronically to the Colorado DMV. Keep your policy active for the full duration of your reinstatement period — a lapse will trigger immediate license suspension.

No. While on an interlock-restricted license, you are only permitted to operate vehicles equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device. Driving a non-interlock vehicle — even someone else's car — is a violation of your restricted license and can result in criminal charges, extended program requirements, or full revocation.

1. Get into your vehicle and put on your seatbelt.
2. Do not put the key in the ignition yet.
3. Press the button on the device and wait for "BLOW NOW" or the ready indicator.
4. Blow a steady breath into the mouthpiece for 4–6 seconds as directed by the device.
5. If you pass, the device will display "START" or "PASS" — insert your key and start the vehicle.
6. If your BAC registers too high, the device enters a temporary lockout. Wait, rinse your mouth with water, and retest when prompted.

A rolling retest is a breath sample required while your vehicle is already running. The device will beep and display a prompt at random intervals — typically 4 to 45 minutes after startup. You have several minutes to complete it safely.

How to take it safely:

1. When the device prompts you, acknowledge it and reduce speed.
2. Pull over when it's safe to do so — you are not required to take the test while moving.
3. Pick up the handset and blow a steady breath as directed.
4. Wait for the device to confirm "PASS" before continuing to drive.

If you miss or fail a rolling retest, the device logs the event and may activate horn or lights as an alert. Repeated missed retests are reported at your next calibration and can be treated as violations.

The "blow and hum" is a technique built into some devices to prevent someone else from providing a breath sample on your behalf. The device detects the vibration of humming through the mouthpiece while you blow. When prompted to hum, blow steadily and hum a low note simultaneously. Keep continuous airflow — do not stop and restart. We demonstrate exactly how to do this during your post-installation training session.

Don't panic. Certain substances can temporarily cause a false reading:

• Mouthwash or toothpaste containing alcohol
• Hand sanitizer (alcohol vapors lingering in a closed vehicle)
• Some energy drinks, kombucha, or fermented beverages
• Certain over-the-counter medications or breath sprays
• Even bread, ripe fruit, or spicy food can briefly register

What to do: Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and wait 5 minutes. When the device prompts you to retest, blow again. If the retest passes, your vehicle will start normally. A single initial fail that's followed by a pass is logged but is generally not treated as a violation in most cases.

All interlock devices draw a small amount of standby power. The Lifesafer LS250 is designed with 4× less battery drain than older models, which is one of its key advantages. If your vehicle's battery is already weak or aging, we recommend having it tested before installation. If your battery dies with the device installed, call us or the device manufacturer's 24/7 support line — they'll walk you through the recovery process without triggering a violation.

No — and attempting this is a serious violation. Modern devices include camera systems that photograph the person providing the breath sample. The camera image is uploaded to the DMV at your next calibration. If someone other than you is captured providing the sample, it is reported as circumvention, which carries the same penalties as a failed test — and potentially criminal charges. The only person who should ever blow into the device is the enrolled driver.

Under Colorado law, if the device records 3 failed breath tests within any 12-month period, you may be subject to additional license suspension and up to one year of extended interlock time for each set of three failures. These events are automatically reported to the DMV during each calibration data upload. This is why it's important to address any false positives immediately — rinse your mouth and retest — so a single incident doesn't become a pattern.

A lockout occurs when the device prevents the vehicle from starting. Common causes include a missed calibration appointment, repeated failed tests, or a detected tamper event.

To get a temporary override code so you can drive to a service center:

• Lifesafer: Call 1‑800‑SAFERGO or log in at myaccount.lifesafer.com
• Guardian: Call 1‑800‑499‑0994

The override code temporarily lifts the lockout so you can get to a service center. It does not erase the lockout event — everything is still reported to the DMV.

Yes. Every time your device data is uploaded at a calibration visit, the complete record — passed tests, failed tests, missed retests, lockout events — is submitted to the Colorado DMV. There are no hidden events. The DMV may notify your court or probation officer. This is exactly why operating the device correctly and maintaining your calibration schedule is so important.

Attempting to tamper with, circumvent, or remove the device without authorization is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Colorado and results in immediate license revocation and criminal charges. Modern devices include cameras, GPS tracking, and tamper sensors. Any tampering attempt is automatically logged and reported. The consequences are never worth it — just operate the device correctly.