Ignition Interlocks – A Proven Means for Preventing Impaired Driving Re-Arrests, and Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Ignition Interlocks
“When someone is convicted of DWI and arrested, it’s clear that they’ve made the decision, at least once, to drink and drive. It’s important to take steps to prevent them from making such a risky decision in the future. Devices known as ignition interlocks can be installed in DWI offenders’ vehicles as safeguards to help prevent future episodes of impaired driving—a serious public health problem that kills about 11,000 people annually and costs nearly $110 billion a year. When an ignition interlock is installed in a car or truck, it prevents that vehicle from being driven by anyone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above a specified level. This level is usually 0.02 to 0.04 grams per deciliter (g/dL); the minimum illegal BAC level is 0.08 g/dL in every state. Typically, interlocks are installed in vehicles operated by drivers who have already been convicted of DWI. They may be mandated through the court system or offered as an alternative to a suspended license, and they’re usually installed for 6 to 24 months.”