The ignition interlock device is many people’s biggest fear. People do not want to have the stigma, the inconvenience, the hassle or the expense of having an ignition interlock in their vehicle.
But what exactly is it?
The ignition interlock is a device that is installed and connected to the ignition of a vehicle, that prevents a vehicle from starting if a person provides a breath sample that shows they have alcohol in their system.
The interlock is also programmed and has permission to shut the car off if a person, while driving, is prompted to provide a sample, and it is over the limit set on the device.
Effectively, it is a breathalyzer that is installed in your car.
It works the same way as a roadside breathalyzer, which means it is also susceptible to false positive readings. Just like a roadside breathalyzer, things that can affect an Ignition Interlock Device are mouthwash, soy sauce, cough syrup and numerous other things.
The Ignition Interlock Device is hardwired into the car, but the portion you blow into is a portable unit, and not wired to the car. You can carry it around with you in your purse or your backpack, it doesn’t need to remain in the car.
It communicates the information to the interlock device through a Bluetooth signal.
Because there is a piece of equipment hardwired into your vehicle and a separate part that communicates with the first part using technology, there is a lot that can fail with Ignition Interlock. This means it requires to be routinely serviced.
People who have it installed in their vehicle are required to take it often to be ‘tuned up.’
This is an important factor to consider because there are costs that come with maintaining an interlock. People who have one installed are required to pay monthly expenses to have it maintained.
What does it do?
The Ignition Interlock will cause your car to stop in any situation where it determines a certain threshold level of alcohol.
A major problem with this is that these devices don’t know where you are on the road, and where you’re driving to. So you can potentially be in a remote area when asked to blow into the device and then be stranded somewhere in the middle of nowhere with no cell service, and the device wouldn’t recognize that.
The device will give you a certain time warning so you can at least have the chance to safely pull over, but there is a big problem in the fact that it cannot recognize where you are.
Another problem is if you are on a busy highway when you’re asked to blow, as it can be a safety risk for a big accident if the car shuts off on a busy highway with low visibility.
There is a further problem with the Ignition Interlock, and that is whether it is an electronic device as defined by the Motor Vehicle Act.
The Motor Vehicle Act prohibits the use of an electronic device while driving, and so technically using it while driving, which is what it’s meant for, would actually violate the provisions in the Motor Vehicle Act.
There have been people who have been ticketed for using an electronic device after blowing into their interlock. But if you have an ignition interlock license, then you can’t comply with the law by not doing it.
It sets up a situation where you will essentially have to choose which offence to commit because both offences are ones that attract significant consequences.
Many police officers will not ticket for this, but the problem is if you’re blowing into the device when passing them, they may confuse it with a cellphone.