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You'll probably end up a repeat offender. Most idiots don't learn from their mistakes. They might put a breathalyzer on your car, but you're a criminal, you'll just get someone (maybe a child) to breathe into it for you, so you can (yet again) drive your drunk ass home (though everyone would prefer you'd drive it straight into a tree).
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That's called an Interlock Ignition Device or IID. They are virtually mandatory for 2nd or 3rd offenses. The offender pays for its installation and monthly lease payments. If he breaks it, he's bought it. You can try to circumvent them but the penalties for doing so are severe if caught. IIDs have random and periodic rolling retests which means as you are driving, you might get a message to pull over and blow again. Every test and result is logged in. If an adult or teen knowingly blows for you, they can and will be charged with aiding and abetting. If a child blows for you, that child can be taken away and placed in state custody. You will lose your license permanently, pay a heavy fine and do jail time.
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I have a few suggestions as to what can be done about these halfwits. Nobody likes drunk drivers. They have to know this for the rest of their lives. Instead of revoking their license for a little while, consider putting them in jail for a minimum of 7 months. When they get out, that's when their license should be suspended, for up to 2 years. They should be forced to go to therapy during those 2 years, to learn how to enjoy alcohol appropriately. During this time, they should also have to complete 60 days of drunk driving education (complete with slideshows of gory accidents).
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Even for a first offense in Michigan, the penalty is tough. You get a boot put on your car so you can't drive it. Your license is suspended. I know a guy who did not get his license back for 7 years. They also install a special TV set at your house and you have to find the station (it changes everyday), a cop will appear on the screen, he'll verify your ID and then tell you to blow. There's a little rubber hose hanging there and you pick it up and blow in it. The cop watches you and can read the results remotely. This is done everyday for a curfew. Then they will call your house at random times like 3 in the morning and you have to answer. Failure to answer is taken to mean you are out partying and it goes down as a black mark and it will take you that much longer to get your license back.
You also have to pay $500 every 6 months to keep your license if they didn't suspend it. And you do this for a minimum of two years. So you will spend $2000 in two years to stay on the road. This is called the Driver Responsibility Fee. This is in addition to being fined for the offense itself--that's separate ($200-$1000). If your license is suspended, you may apply for a restricted license after a certain amount of time--at least 30 days. The court will decide where you can drive--to work, to the store, to the testing center etc.--and that's all the driving you are allowed to do and this virtually always involves getting an IID installed first. And that only applies to first offenses. 2nd or 3rd offenders get their license plates confiscated and cannot apply for a restricted license.
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They should have a breathalyzer affixed to their vehicle for the rest of the vehicle's life. This may not always prevent the driver from driving drunk, but it will act as a deterrent until more sophisticated technology is created. They should have 5 years of probation following the 2 years of treatment, with a requirement to "check in" with their probation officer every week.
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Many laws are already stricter than that.
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If they're caught drinking and driving a second time, their vehicle should be taken away indefinitely. They should be punished by not being able to apply for a new license for up to 10 years.
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In Michigan, you probably wouldn't get your license back for that long or longer. As I said, a friend of mine had to wait 7 years and it was his first (and only) offense. Insurance rates go sky-high.
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With every new offense, the punishment should be more severe. Most people would be smarter than this, but usually they're not.
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About a third of all drunk drivers arrested are repeat offenders. Drunk driving is the #1 crime for which Americans are arrested. Most repeaters will repeat within 10 years (Michigan's "look back" period is 7 years which, IMO, is too short and should be lengthened to at least 10). Repeat offenders are over-represented in accidents involving fatalities. The more offenses, the higher the risk for a fatal accident. 1% of all licensed drivers in America will be arrested for drunk driving--more than for any other crime.
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