Miss this charge when budgeting after a drunk-driving case, and a missed payment can turn into a suspended driving privilege, a probation violation, or a car you legally cannot use to get to work. The phrase means the recurring amount paid to rent an ignition interlock device - the breath-testing unit installed in a vehicle that prevents it from starting if alcohol is detected. Unlike a one-time installation fee, the lease cost is usually a monthly expense and may also include monitoring, calibration, servicing, and data reporting.

That matters because the bill often lasts far longer than people expect. A court, probation department, or motor vehicle agency may require the device for months or longer, so the total cost can become a major part of the financial fallout from a DWI or DUI-related conviction. In New York, Leandra's Law (2009) generally requires an ignition interlock device for at least 12 months on vehicles owned or operated by many convicted drivers, even in misdemeanor cases. Oversight often involves the New York DMV and approved vendors.

The cost can also affect an injury claim indirectly. If a driver falls behind on interlock payments and drives anyway, that can create new traffic violations, damage credibility, and complicate settlement negotiations with an insurance carrier. In New York, where a lost car can mean a brutal winter commute in Buffalo or hours of delay on I-495, understanding this expense early helps prevent bigger losses fast.