How Can People With Multiple Duis Benefit From Having An Ignition Interlock Installed?
If your state makes an ignition interlock program available for repeat offenders, you could benefit from using one in a couple of ways. Having an interlock installed in your vehicle has been proven to help you complete your program and also avoid getting another alcohol-related offense. It can also keep people in your life and your community safer.
Statistics don’t lie. Almost 30 people are killed every day in the United States because of drunk driving — and these deaths are entirely preventable. Having an ignition interlock installed in your vehicle dramatically reduces these deaths as well as injuries associated with accidents caused by intoxication.
Luckily, the majority of states have ignition interlock programs. Accidents and fatalities due to alcohol-related driving incidents have been significantly reduced with the use of ignition interlock devices. Interesting enough, ignition interlocks have been instrumental in decreasing repeat offenders even after the interlock device is removed.
Jail time, fines, and suspensions may deter some people from driving intoxicated, but more and more courts, probation officers, and treatment centers are looking to technology, such as ignition interlocks, to help promote and reward good behavior as a way of reducing recidivism. They find that punitive measures just don’t work sometimes and have been very creative in finding positive ways to help people make better choices and still be able to get on with their lives.
What is an Interlock Device?
Think of an interlock device as a high-tech, car breathalyzer. The driver must blow into the device and the device measures the concentration level of alcohol in the driver’s breath. There’s a level that is preset (mandated by the state) at installation into the device that the driver can’t exceed — if it registers above that level, the vehicle’s ignition is locked and the driver can’t start the car. They’ll have to wait for a few minutes and then try again. Also, the device asks for random retests while the car is running to ensure the driver doesn’t start drinking after the initial test is passed. The data collected by the device is sent to the appropriate monitoring agencies.
What are the Benefits of an Ignition Interlock Device?
Statistics show that with an interlock installed arrests for impaired driving are reduced as much as 70%. And they’ve been shown to cut down on repeat offenses by as much as 40%, even once the device is taken out of their vehicle. If a person voluntarily elects to keep the device in their vehicle as a preventative measure, that could further reduce the arrest rate as well as provide the driver with much-needed peace of mind.
Interlock devices cut down on drinking and driving, but also ensure that people using them can go on with their lives; get to work or school and support family members. If they’re a single parent whose family relies on their income, for example, it might be devastating — and certainly inconvenient — to have that mode of transportation taken away.
Who Provides These Devices?
In many states, the DMV, the court, or probation officers will recommend the installation of an interlock device. All costs associated with an interlock are the individual’s responsibility. However, these costs are much smaller than incurring fines and jail time.
The LifeSafer Ignition Interlock Team can help you get an ignition interlock installed quickly and affordably. We pioneered the technology and have been serving customers for over 30 years. We are the experts.
If you or someone you know gets convicted for an alcohol-related offense, whether it is the first offense or not, give us a call at 800-634-3077 and we will guide you through the process of regaining your freedom to drive. Or, sign up online at lifesafer.com.
LifeSafer also offers a voluntary program for those who come to rely on their ignition interlock and want the added assurance the device gives them when driving.