Maryland Ignition Interlock Program

Who Is Required to Participate

Maryland's Ignition Interlock Program expanded dramatically under Noah's Law and House Bill 105 (effective October 1, 2024). The IIP is now mandatory for:

• Any driver convicted of DUI (BAC 0.08 or higher)
• Any driver convicted of DWI (BAC 0.07–0.0799)
• Anyone who receives Probation Before Judgment for an alcohol-related offense
• Drivers who refuse a chemical test (breath, blood, or urine)
• Drivers who register a BAC of 0.08 or higher during the administrative per se process

Before HB 105, first-time DWI offenders and PBJ recipients could often avoid interlock requirements. That exception no longer exists. A DUI/DWI conviction, an alcohol-related PBJ, a qualifying chemical-test refusal, or a BAC result of 0.08 or higher can trigger mandatory IIP participation.

One important restriction was also eliminated: work-only restricted licenses are completely unavailable for drivers with a BAC of 0.15 or higher, or those who refuse a chemical test. Their only path to any driving privilege is the interlock program.

How Enrollment Works

You have 30 days from the date of your Order of Suspension to enroll. The process:

1. Contract with an MVA-approved interlock provider to install a camera-enabled, breath-analysis device. The provider list is available through the MVA.
2. Get the device installed and obtain Form AJ-013 (Proof of Installation) from the provider.
3. Enroll through your myMVA account online or in person at a full-service MVA branch.
4. Surrender your physical license at the MVA branch.
5. Receive your interlock-restricted license displaying restriction code "J."

CDL holders face an additional step: you must formally downgrade to a non-commercial Class C license before you can participate. Federal regulations prohibit interlock-restricted commercial driving licenses. This means your CDL is off the table for the duration of the program.

Program Length

The statutory durations are fixed based on the severity of the offense:

• 180 days for a BAC of 0.08 to 0.149
• 1 year for a BAC of 0.15 or higher, or for a chemical test refusal
• 6 months for a first-offense DWI (BAC 0.07–0.0799)

These are minimums. The program length extends automatically if you have violations during participation (details below).

What the Device Does

The ignition interlock device requires a breath sample before the vehicle will start. You blow into the mouthpiece, and the device analyzes your breath alcohol concentration. A camera captures a photo during each test to verify your identity — this prevents someone else from blowing on your behalf.

Beyond the startup test, the device conducts rolling random retests while you're driving. These occur at unpredictable intervals during your trip. If you fail a retest or refuse to provide a sample, the device logs the violation and triggers an alarm (horn honking, lights flashing) until you pull over and turn off the engine.

Every 30 days, you bring the vehicle to your provider for a calibration appointment. The provider downloads the device's data log, recalibrates the equipment, and submits the monitoring report to the MVA.

Violations That Extend the Program

Any violation during the program triggers a mandatory extension:

• 30-day extension: Attempting to start with a BAC above 0.025, failing a rolling retest, missing a calibration appointment, or recording fewer than 50 vehicle starts in a 30-day monitoring period (low-starts violation)
• 90-day extension: Any violation committed during the final three months of the program. This resets the "clean finish" requirement (see below).
• Program removal: Severe or repeated tampering, circumvention attempts, or a pattern of violations can result in removal from the IIP entirely. Removal reinstates the full, unrestricted license suspension.

The low-starts violation catches people who try to wait out their program duration without actually driving. The MVA requires evidence that you're consistently using the interlock-equipped vehicle — fewer than 50 starts in a 30-day window triggers an extension.

How to Get the Device Removed

Successful completion requires finishing the last three consecutive months of your program term with zero violations. No failed tests, no missed calibrations, no low starts, nothing. If a violation occurs during those final three months, the 90-day extension kicks in and the clean-period clock resets.

Once you complete the clean period:

1. Your provider submits a final compliance report to the MVA
2. You file Form DC-226 (Request for Removal of Restriction) with the MVA's Driver Wellness and Safety Division
3. The MVA processes the restriction removal
4. You schedule a device removal appointment with your provider
5. You visit an MVA branch to get a new license without the "J" restriction code

The device removal itself is handled by your provider, typically costing $50–$100.

Costs

The financial commitment for IIP participation runs higher than most people expect:

• Installation: $100–$180
• Monthly lease: $80–$100
• MVA enrollment fee: $47
• Calibration/monitoring: Typically included in the monthly lease
• Device removal: $50–$100

For a 180-day program, expect a total cost of roughly $700–$900. A one-year program runs $1,100–$1,500 or more.

If you meet financial hardship criteria, Form DC-212 (Ignition Interlock Participation Fee Waiver Application) can eliminate the $47 enrollment fee and reduce your monthly lease by 50%.

The IIP Within the Bigger Reinstatement Picture

The interlock program addresses your DUI/DWI-related suspension, but it won't help if you also have other holds — unpaid fines, child support flags, insurance lapse penalties. The MVA won't issue your interlock-restricted license if a child support suspension completely blocks credential issuance.

The Maryland Driver's License Reinstatement Guide covers how the IIP fits into the broader reinstatement sequence, including which holds need to be cleared first before interlock enrollment makes sense.

See more Maryland guides →