I have a friend who was having trouble using his igintion interlock system. We decided to do some research.

When an ignition interlock user calls to report that he or she is having a problem, a technician will usually do a thorough check to find out the source of the glitch. Often it turns out that the issue has a different cause entirely. Here are the most common problems that make people think that their ignition interlock is misbehaving:

Issues. As we’ve noted before, battery issues are the number one complaint.

Interlocks only draw a tiny amount of current – about the same amount as the clock on a car radio, which needs a bit of juice to keep your station settings. Usually it’s no more than half an amp. With a good battery, an ignition interlock should pose no problem. Still, any amount of draw can drain a bad battery, so make sure that their battery is in top condition, or else buy a new one.

Alternator issues. Alternators recharge the battery as it drains. If the alternator isn’t working right, it doesn’t matter how new your battery is – your battery will die. Have the alternator checked if you’re having any new electronics installed in your car – not just an ignition interlock.

Substandard accessory installations. Many motorists like to save money by buying an electronic component online – a stereo or remote starter, say  – and doing the installation themselves. Car electronics are complicated, and they’re getting more so by the year. All it takes is a poorly sheathed wire or loose connection to cause some difficult-to-trace problems. Sometimes complaints about an interlock end up being about a poorly-wired navigation system or subwoofer.

And it’s not only DIY installations that cause problems. Many car mod shops let the “new guy” train on a customer’s vehicle, and the work isn’t always properly checked out. Your vehicle could be a trainee’s homework. (Not at LifeSafer, though : all our technicians are fully trained before they begin working on customers’ cars).

Aging vehicles. If you have an interlock installed on your classic old car, and a week later your air conditioner cuts out, don’t blame the interlock too quickly. Things go wrong on old cars all the time, and sometimes the ignition interlock is an innocent bystander.

Too many add-ons. A touch screen, extra interior and exterior lighting, remote start, radar detector, rear DVD player, car alarm, subwoofer, headrest monitors, GPS, back up camera… we get it, you like your electronics. But even if they’re all installed perfectly, having all those devices is asking a lot of circuitry that wasn’t designed for it. Your battery will be draining much faster, and you could have introduced more points of failure. Just sayin’.

Of course, if your interlock is having problems, call the company that installed it and we’ll have an expert technician fix or replace the unit. They are  not just here to install interlocks – they are here to keep you on the road.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.

These devices are becoming more and more widely used. In Florida, if you have a high breath alcohol reading on your first alcohol offense, or if you have a second alcohol offense, the court is probably going to require you to install one of these devices.

A Florida approved ignition interlock device is an in-car breath screening apparatus that requires the driver to pass a breath-alcohol test before his motor vehicle will start. Typically, it is located inside the passenger compartment, near the driver’s seat, and interconnected with five wires inside the vehicle’s steering column. Fla Administrative Code Rule 15-A-9003(3) requires that a minimum of 1.5 liters of breath be introduced through the mouthpiece and run through the instrument before the alcohol content is measured. Once the driver blows into a mouthpiece, the device will determine if his breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) meets or exceeds the pre-set limit of .025 BrAC or greater. If the driver’s BrAC meets or exceeds the prohibited level, the ignition interlock will effectively prevent the vehicle from being started.

Where will the ignition interlock device be installed?

Where will the ignition interlock device be installed?A typical installation in your car or truck will take the service provider about two hours. However some luxury vehicles and those employing push button starters necessitate additional time and effort. Although installation of an interlock on a motorcycle is permitted in some states (i.e., Oregon, Wisconsin, Idaho, Kentucky, Nebraska and Washington) that is not the case in the “Sunshine State.” Florida Administrative Code Section 15A-9003(17) strictly prohibits interlocks from being installed on any motorcycle, bicycle, motorized scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device or moped. A vehicle installation normally requires that five wires be hard wired into your steering column. It is typically not necessary to perform any work within your engine compartment. When the installation is complete, you will observe a coiled black wire connected to the electronic “head” and mouth piece. The electronics can easily be unplugged and taken with you into your home or place of business. In the alternative, some motorists cover the device with an article of clothing.

Is there more than one type or model of interlock?

Is there more than one type or model of interlock?There are currently three approved interlock models in Florida. “Smart Start” offers model “SSI 20/30.” Alcolock offers model “Alcolock LR” and “Guardian Interlock” offers “AMS 2000.” All of these ignition interlock devices implement a “rolling test.” This means that after successfully starting the vehicle, they call on the driver to blow again after he has driven some distance or time. An initial retest is required within the first five minutes of starting the vehicle. Additional random retests begin to occur between 15 to 30 minutes later. The driver only has up to three minutes to comply with the required retest. This “rolling test” feature is intended to prevent the driver from having someone else blow into the device to get the vehicle started (commonly referred to as “curbside assistance”). The retesting is also intended to prevent the driver from consuming alcohol while actually operating the motor vehicle.

What Happens if the Ignition Interlock Detects Alcohol?

If a breath sample introduced into the interlock meets or exceeds the preset “fail point,” the vehicle will not start. If a driver fails to provide a breath sample or his BrAC exceeds the pre-set limit during a “rolling retest”, the engine of the vehicle will continue to run. An ignition interlock device cannot turn the engine off once it is running. However, if an interlock detects alcohol during a “rolling retest,” in most cases the device will cause the vehicle’s horn to sound and the headlights to flash. These “events” are recorded by the device and will be revealed during the “monitoring check” down load of data.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.