MADD Eugene Hosts Ignition Interlock Demonstration

Smart Start Ignition Interlock Presents Demonstration to Eugene Community
by Brant Norquist, MADD Eugene Volunteer

Guest speaker Nadine Lewis from Smart Start Ignition Interlock (http://www.smartstartinc.com/) presented a demonstration of an interlock ignition device to community members at the Eugene City Hall Council Chamber on May 15th. An ignition interlock device is a breath test device designed to prevent people who have alcohol in their system from driving a car. The device is linked to a motor car’s ignition system, and it is located inside the vehicle, near the driver’s seat. Before a driver may start his or her vehicle, the driver must blow into the device. The vehicle will not start unless the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (B.A.C.) is below a pre-set level.

The demonstration was designed to show how an ignition interlock device functions. Lewis first asked a consenting volunteer adult to consume a few alcoholic drinks of alcohol over an extended period of time. Lewis then led the volunteer and all observers down to the parking lot with a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device.

The demonstration began as a Smart Start employee showed observers that the vehicle would not start without first initiating the ignition interlock device. Without first breathing into the device, the employee attempted to start the vehicle by turning the key; the engine did not make a noise, and the car did not start.

Next, the employee demonstrated how the ignition interlock functions when someone who has not consumed alcohol attempts to start the vehicle. The employee initiated the ignition interlock device and he blew into the device for four seconds. Once the device beeped to notify the employee an adequate sample had been collected, the device began analyzing the sample. A few seconds later, the device signaled that the employee had passed the test; the employee turned the key, and the car started.

Later, the intoxicated volunteer was led to the vehicle and instructed to attempt to start the car. The volunteer initiated the test and blew into the device. After the device analyzed the sample, it signaled the intoxicated volunteer had failed the test. The volunteer turned the key; the engine did not make a noise, and the car did not start. A few minutes later, the volunteer’s B.A.C. was measured at 0.086 percent.

Recent improvements in technology have increased the accuracy of ignition interlock devices. Lewis said that Smart Start’s newest device uses “fuel cell technology,” which is a highly accurate method of testing a person’s B.A.C., because it only measures alcohol.

Technology has also improved to prevent potential offenders from circumventing the ignition interlock system. For example, some offenders figured out that some ignition interlock devices can be fooled by blowing compressed air rather than breathing into the device. Smart Start now uses ignition interlock devices that require the driver to “hum” into the device after giving the breath-test sample. In this manner, the device will not let the driver pass the test unless it senses the hum of a human being’s vocal cords.

Additionally, to prevent a driver from having a friend blow into the device to start the car, some ignition interlock devices ask the driver to intermittently retest by safely pulling over to the side of the road and blowing into the device. If a driver is unable to pull over and retest within six minutes, the device does not shut off the car. Instead, the device will record that the driver did not take the retest, and this instance will go on a report that Smart Start maintains. This report can later be sent to a court or to a drug treatment facility.

Increasing the use of ignition interlock devices is a central focus of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. Ignition interlock devices are up to 90 percent effective for both first-time and repeat offenders. However, it is estimated that only one convicted drunk driver in eight gets the device each year—and most of those are repeat offenders. Currently, only six states—New Mexico, Louisiana, Arizona, Illinois, Washington, and Nebraska—have laws that mandate ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders.

Research shows that ignition interlock devices are one of the most effective ways to prevent convicted drunk drivers from continuing to drive drunk. Sixty-five percent of the general public supports ignition interlocks for first time offenders. This leaves an important question to be asked: if the public favors ignition interlock devices, and if they reduce instances of drunk driving, why aren’t ignition interlock devices required for first time offenders in all states?
You can support ignition interlock devices for all convicted DUI offenders. If you are a resident of one of the 44 states without a law that mandates ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders, visit http://www.madd.org/Take-Action.aspx.