Can You Drink Any Alcohol While Wearing a SCRAM Bracelet?
You may have heard of the SCRAM bracelet before, but what is it, and what does it do? If you face DWI charges in North Carolina, a court may order you to wear this bracelet as a condition of your release or your sentence. The bracelets monitor alcohol consumption by measuring the level of alcohol in your sweat.
Keep reading to learn what happens if you drink while wearing a SCRAM bracelet and whether you can skirt the system and still enjoy an alcoholic beverage or two.
Continuous Alcohol Monitoring: SCRAM Bracelet
If law enforcement has charged you with DWI (Driving While Impaired) in North Carolina, you may end up wearing a SCRAM bracelet. SCRAM stands for “Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring.” Courts often order this device for those charges with high-level DWIs and in select other circumstances.
SCRAM is a form of transdermal alcohol testing. These alcohol monitoring devices measure alcohol consumption through the body’s sweat. The SCRAM bracelets use a patented fuel cell sensor to measure the level of alcohol in your perspiration every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day.
The results transmit to authorities via an ankle shackle and telephone link or cellular radio signal. SCRAM bracelets also come with built-in tamper detection to prevent someone from tampering with or removing the device.
“On any given day in the state, 99.4% of DWI offenders monitored with SCRAM CAM have a completely Sober Day, defined as a 24-hour period where hourly, court-validated testing confirms no drinking and no attempt to circumvent testing.” (1)
While these are promising results for state government agencies looking for scientifically sound peer-reviewed solutions for alcohol-related offenses, there are questions about whether these devices violate your civil rights.
But what happens if you do kick back and enjoy a beer?
Wearing a SCRAM While Drinking Alcohol
The short answer is no—if you wear a SCRAM bracelet and drink alcohol, your SCRAM violation raises your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and your alcohol monitor will show SCRAM results that you’re drinking alcohol.
The SCRAM device will detect the ingested alcohol and alert authorities that you have violated your court order. This could lead to severe consequences, including incarceration or additional fines and penalties.
In addition to strict sobriety requirements while wearing a SCRAM bracelet, there are other things you will need to be aware of.
Wearing SCRAM bracelets or ankle monitors means you’re also wearing GPS locators on your person. Results from your SCRAM monitor feed into a private company regional monitoring center, reporting your ankle bracelet test results to your probation officer.
How Much Does the SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Cost?
SCRAM devices, sometimes called a SCRAM Cam system, can cost you on average, monitoring fees around $12 per day. You’ll also pay for SCRAM device installation, which runs around $75. The daily monitoring fees can really add up every month!
If you are not an aggravated level 1 offender, there is a good chance that the court will not impose a SCRAM alcohol monitoring device if you can’t afford one, unless the local government can pay for one. (4)
Facing Level One DWI Punishment
At this level of DWI, you can face fines of $4,000 and 30 days to 2 years in jail time. However, a judge can reduce jail time to 10 days if you agree to wear a remote alcohol monitor for at least 120 days.
You may receive the monitoring system as a condition of pretrial release, and the court may credit 60 days of pre-release wear toward the sentencing requirement.
However, the judge may still place you on probation, requiring a
- Substance abuse assessment
- Education
- Treatment
- Any other lawful condition of probation (2)
Facing Level Two DWI Punishment
At this level of DWI, you can face fines of $2,000 and 7 days to 1 year in jail time. However, a judge can eliminate the jail time altogether if you agree to wear a remote alcohol monitor for at least 90 days.
You may receive the monitoring system as a condition of pretrial release, and the court may credit 60 days of pre-release wear toward the sentencing requirement.
However, the judge may still place you on probation and require:
- 240 hours of community service
- Substance abuse assessment
- Education
- Treatment
- Any other lawful condition of probation (3)
Alcohol Monitoring Systems
Courts often look at SCRAM systems over house arrest or other ways to monitor alcohol use. Another system that court’s often order is the Ignition Interlock Device.
This is another option for people with multiple DWI convictions or high-level DWIs. A court’s order typically requires the driver to blow into it to measure their breath alcohol content (BAC).
If the BAC exceeds a certain limit set by the court, the vehicle will not start. Even when placed in an ignition interlock device, the driver must obtain a restricted driver’s license.
Final Thoughts
If you’re facing alcohol-related charges or DWI in North Carolina, it is essential to understand what wearing a SCRAM bracelet means for your life. Make sure you follow all court-ordered directions and conditions that accompany wearing a SCRAM bracelet, or else you may face more serious consequences.
If you cannot afford the SCRAM device, it is crucial to speak to your DWI lawyer about the situation to have the most favorable outcome for your case.
Our Experienced DWI Attorneys Can Help
At Scharff Law, we are committed to providing our clients with the highest quality legal representation. We understand the complexities of a DWI charge, and we are here to help you craft an effective defense strategy.
Our team has experience handling all types of DWIs and will work hard to get you the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.