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RSMo 577.612effective 01 Jan 2017

Tampering with or circumventing the operation of an interlock device

In plain English

An ignition interlock device is a machine installed in a car that makes a driver blow into it before the car will start — it checks for alcohol. This law covers three things that are illegal: (1) A person whose license requires one of these devices cannot ask someone else to blow into it or start the car for them. (2) A person cannot blow into the device or start the car to help someone who is required to use one get around that requirement. (3) A person cannot mess with or break the device to get around how it works. Breaking this law is a class A misdemeanor, which is a type of crime.

Penalties named in this law
class A misdemeanorup to 1 year in jail

Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.

Word-for-word law

577.612. with or the operation of an interlock device — . — 1. A person commits the of tampering with or circumventing the operation of an if:

(1) His or her is restricted by a prohibition on the operation of any vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with a functioning, , and he or she requests or any other person to blow into an ignition interlock device or to start a vehicle equipped with the device for the purpose of providing the person so restricted with an operable vehicle; or

(2) He or she blows into an ignition interlock device or starts a vehicle equipped with the device for the purpose of providing an operable vehicle to a person whose driving privilege is restricted the of this chapter or chapter 302 by a prohibition on the operation of any vehicle unless that vehicle is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device; or

(3) He or she tampers with, or the operation of, an ignition interlock device.

2. The offense of tampering with or circumventing the operation of an ignition interlock device is a .

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Source & history notes

(L. 1995 S.B. 102 § 7, A.L. 2008 S.B. 930 & 947, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 577.612: Tampering with or circumventing the operation of an interlock device | KnowMo Laws