The Lawrence Eagle Tribune reported yesterday that a repeat DUI offender was just arrested in Pelham, New Hampshire for a 3rd offense OUI charge while he was operating a motor vehicle which was equipped with an ignition interlock device. According to police, John T. LeVasseur was “all over the road.” He was reported to be highly intoxicated and he was arrested after he failed field sobriety evaluations and police found marijuana and empty booze bottles in his motor vehicle.
It remains unclear how LeVasseur was able to start and operate his vehicle in such an intoxicated condition. The ignition interlock device will not allow a vehicle to start if the driver’s blood alcohol content is at or above .02. Also, the driver is required to take rolling re-tests at random periodic intervals, while the vehicle’s engine is running. The driver claims that he blew into the IID and it allowed him to start the vehicle. The case is still under investigation and the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be able to receive the alcohol readings downloaded from the ignition interlock device.
In addition to any New Hampshire license revocations that LeVasseur faces, he will face an additional Massachusetts license suspension for violating the ignition interlock section of Melanie’s Law if he is found to have circumvented or tampered with the IID. Also, if he failed rolling re-tests or had someone else blow into the device so that he could start his vehicle, he will face an additional long-term license revocation for the ignition interlock violation.