How to Regain a Driver’s License after Drunk Driving. Alcohol Interlock Device.

Adwokat Adrian Grochowski
Sep 4
2 min read

License Revoked for Drunk Driving

When a driver is convicted of a misdemeanor or a crime involving operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, the court is obliged to impose a penal measure in the form of a driving ban. This penalty is undoubtedly one of the most burdensome sanctions.

The length of the ban depends on many factors, but in general:

for misdemeanors, the ban ranges from 6 months to 3 years,
for crimes, the range is 3 to 15 years.

In addition, the Penal Code provides for a lifetime driving ban in cases of repeat offenders, accidents resulting in death or serious bodily harm, or fleeing the scene of an accident.

How Can You Get Your License Back?

The key question is whether it is possible to shorten the duration of the imposed driving ban.

The answer lies in the institution of the alcohol interlock device. This solution is provided for under the Road Traffic Act and the Executive Penal Code. Article 182a §1 of the latter states that if a driving ban has been enforced for at least half of the imposed term, or for at least 10 years in the case of a lifetime ban, the court may modify the ban so that it applies only to vehicles not equipped with an alcohol interlock device.

In practice, this means that once the device is installed, the driver may legally operate a vehicle. However, the decision rests entirely with the court. The judge will assess whether the offender’s conduct in private and professional life gives sufficient assurance that their driving will not endanger road safety.

In short, the driver must convince the court that allowing them to drive with an alcohol interlock device is justified. Therefore, it is crucial to prepare the application carefully, providing well-founded arguments supported by appropriate evidence.

Podsumowując, sprawca powinien przekonać sąd, że w jego przypadku korzystanie z blokady alkoholowej będzie uzasadnione. Dlatego właśnie warto zadbać, aby wniosek o skorzystanie z dobrodziejstwa blokady alkoholowej został prawidłowo umotywowany, a motywy te zostały poparte odpowiednimi dowodami.

Cost of an Alcohol Interlock Device

While using an alcohol interlock device involves certain expenses and additional obligations (such as calibrating the device every 12 months and undergoing a technical inspection at a Vehicle Inspection Station after installation), these costs are relatively modest. Renting an interlock device costs less than PLN 1,000 per year—a small price compared to the ability to legally drive again.