DUI Electronic Monitoring

If convicted of driving under the influence, or driving while intoxicated, a defendant faces serious penalties, including driver's license suspension, fines, community service, and jail time. However, in certain cases jail time may be avoided by alternative sentencing such as electronic monitoring.

Electronic monitoring is sometimes referred to as 'house arrest.' Electronic monitoring allows the DUI offender to be confined to his or her home rather than a jail cell. This option is normally included as a condition of probation. If the offender does not follow the terms of electronic monitoring, he or she violates the probation terms and must spend time in jail.

The terms of electronic monitoring may allow the offender to work during the day, with the condition that he or she must stay at home at night. This is due to the fact that most arrests for driving under the influence occur in the evening.

Some electronic monitoring programs require the offender to wear an electronic device that straps to his or her ankle. This device can tell whether or not the offender leaves the home. The device also sends a signal to the probation officer's computer to determine if the offender is in compliance with the conditions of house arrest.

There are some programs that make it a requirement for the offender to answer random phone calls to ensure that he or she is in compliance with house arrest. Other programs incorporate the use of GPS. Using satellite monitoring, the probation officer can determine if the offender stays within an assigned area.

This alternative sentencing option is attractive to taxpayers, as the cost for electronic monitoring falls squarely on the DUI offender. There are several different companies and contractors who are licensed to offer electronic monitoring.

Not all DUI offenders are eligible for electronic monitoring. For a first-time offender, electronic monitoring may be used in lieu of jail time. However, for some offenders with more than one DUI offense on their record, jail time may be mandatory.

To learn if electronic monitoring is an option in your DUI or DWI case, contact an experienced defense attorney today.