🔒Driving Without Interlock (Evading or Circumventing Interlock Device) – C.R.S. 42-2-132.5

If your license has been reinstated with an ignition interlock restriction and you’re caught driving a vehicle that doesn’t have one installed — or tampering with your interlock system — you could face a new criminal charge and another loss of your license.

This offense goes by several names in Colorado:

👉 “Driving Without Interlock”

👉 “Evading Interlock”

👉 “Circumventing or Tampering with an Interlock Device”

Each of these falls under C.R.S. 42-2-132.5, and each can trigger serious DMV and criminal consequences.

This charge is part of Colorado’s broader Driving Under Restraint laws — see my DUR Overview for how all restraint-related offenses fit together.

Real-World Scenarios: How These Cases Happen

This charge often comes from everyday, understandable situations — but the law doesn’t make exceptions:

🚗 Your interlock-equipped car is in the shop, so you drive your “other car” without interlock to grab a pack of cigarettes or a loaf of bread.

🚙 You’re on a road trip with family in a non-interlock car. Your spouse is tired, you take over the wheel — and a trooper clocks you a few miles over the limit.

🎄 You’re running late for work, blow into your interlock-equipped truck, and the machine malfunctions — flashing error codes like a Christmas tree. You grab your spouse’s keys and hit the road, only to see red and blue lights in the mirror.

💨 You unplug your interlock briefly or have someone else blow into it because you’re trying to save time.

To a prosecutor or hearing officer, any of these can look like “circumvention.”

What the Law Says

Under C.R.S. 42-2-132.5(10):

A person required to have an ignition interlock device who drives any vehicle not equipped with one commits a Class 1 Misdemeanor Traffic Offense (MT1).

Penalties include:

• Up to 10 days to 1 year in jail
• $300 to $1,000 fine
• DMV revocation for at least 1 year or the remainder of the restraint period (whichever is longer)

Charged with a different type of DUR?

If your case involves Driving Under Restraint – Alcohol Related (DUR-Alc) instead of an interlock issue, learn more about how Colorado handles those cases on my DUR-Alc page.

Tampering with Interlock Device (Subsection 11)

Tampering — such as unplugging, obstructing, or altering an interlock — is charged separately under C.R.S. 42-2-132.5(11) as a Class 2 Misdemeanor Traffic Offense (MT2).

The statute itself doesn’t expressly mandate a new revocation for tampering alone.

However, if the interlock provider reports a tamper event under subsection (6), that report can lead to further review or administrative action by the DMV.

In some cases, the Hearing Division may treat a tampering report similarly to an attempted circumvention — potentially resulting in a new period of revocation. Each case is fact-specific, and outcomes depend on how the evidence is presented and interpreted.

Even though tampering and circumvention are defined separately, both can jeopardize your driving privilege. Having experienced counsel to clarify and challenge the underlying facts can make a real difference.

Why It Matters

Even minor interlock violations can snowball into huge setbacks.

A revocation under this section means:

• You’re back to a revoked license (no interlock eligibility for at least one year).
• You may need to start your interlock period over once reinstated.
• You risk new habitual traffic offender points and a criminal record.
• The DMV and your interlock provider will flag your account for closer monitoring.

In short — one bad decision, even for understandable reasons, can set you back years.

Possible Defenses

• You weren’t driving the vehicle in question.
• The interlock report was incorrect or misinterpreted.
• The alleged tampering wasn’t intentional (e.g., a low-battery or wiring issue).
• The interlock provider’s maintenance or calibration errors created false readings.
• You didn’t receive proper notice of the administrative hearing or violation.

How I Defend These Cases

Interlock violation cases often have more complexity than meets the eye.

I dig into the data logs, vendor reports, and DMV hearing records to see what really happened. Sometimes the issue is a glitch, a voltage drop, or a miscommunication — not an attempt to cheat the system.

With over 20 years of experience defending DUI-related interlock cases across Colorado, I know how the DMV and the courts interpret these statutes — and how to challenge weak or exaggerated allegations.

Many interlock-related cases start with an underlying DUI conviction — learn more about defending those charges on my Colorado DUI Defense Lawyer page.

Call Me Today

If you’re facing a charge for driving without interlock, evading interlock, or tampering with your ignition interlock device, call me directly at 303-355-5148 for a free consultation.

You’ll speak with me, Monte Robbins — not a screener or assistant.

I’ll personally defend you in court and at the DMV hearing to protect your license and your future.