Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Any Experience With Ignition Interlock Device

I mentioned a few days back that I was concerned about my daughter. She is not under a court order to have a device installed, but I want to get one installed. I have done a little reading on line and don't have a good feel for them. All I need it to do is prevent the car from starting if she has alcohol in her blood.

Any idea on the cost of the device and installation?

What are the maintenance costs?

How long do they last?

Are they prone to errors that would cause the car not to start?


Any other information?

I will find a shop and chat with them about it, but thought I'd pick your brain here first so that I can have a somewhat educated discussion with the shop.

If she's that much of a liability, I would be pulling several fuses(fuel pump) and she would be taking her Chevrolegs everywhere.

She's 33 years old, married and lives in a different city. She suffers from depression. Most of the time she is good and would happily consent to having the device installed because she knows she is prone to drink during a deeply depressive episode.

Here they run about $100-125 a month. The company owns the machine and you pay the monthly service charge and a calibration charge every so often that’s about another hundred or so . They’re pretty sensitive to certain things that will put alcohol on your breath, energy drinks as one example. If someone takes a drink of one and then blows in the next minute or so it’ll be high but back to normal in a few minute so you want to make sure that it’s set up to retest in so many minute. I don’t know if they’re in your area but I recommend smart start to clients that need one, their a little higher cost but are good about getting you the logs quickly and seem to have better service/less trouble with their machines.

One of the other things that may work in your scenario is that most of them have a camera so you can see whose testing and a gps so you can see location.

A friend last year went into court ordered rehab and they put this device on his truck.

It cost him up front about 500.00 and about 100.00 a month after.

He got a text/phone call and had a limited amount of time to blow the device or else the cops put a warrant out for him.

Might get a hold of the probation folks in your area and ask about the product and company that does their vehicles.

Sorry you're having to deal with it, hope she gets it under control. Depression is no joke with or without drugs or alcohol.
Best of luck to you both.
Sorry, no help on the device.

The last I knew they could be bypassed if a sober person blew through the tube. Yes, they work as designed and they are expensive. But, it appears they can be bypassed. That is a question you need to ask anyone who would install the device.

kwg

Paul, my neighbor’s son is quite a rounder and had to have one installed on his truck. I think it’s about 200$/month and requires periodic downloads which are reported to the state, failure to blow during mandatory “beep” time frame counts against the driver and several of these causes a total lockout. Just info there and not your present situation, I know.

The place is located in Baton Rouge and I’ll try and find it for you.

I’m sure they’re some in the Nola, Metairie area and would bet a local cop would know.

Not much help here. Good luck buddy and hope things change for her and you.

Are you able to get her some professional help?

Intoxalock in Baton Rouge
Smart Start in Gonzales

Since she wouldn't be under a court order or under parole supervision etc, id ask if it could be programmed to simply not start if alcohol is detected, not the lockout after so many fails etc that others mentioned, which I believe requires the vehicle to be towed in to reset. Simply not starting if she was drinking would seem to suffice in this situation Also not being under supervision she may not be required to take it in monthly or whatever for data download or whatever they do. Just another thing to inquire about

Sure hate to hear that, Paul.

That she turns to alcohol while depressed sure isn't gonna help.

She have kids? Any support from her husband?

Wish I could say I saw an interlock device as being anything other than a band aid on a severe cut... but I don't.

If I could help in any way, let me know.

where's flave when ya need 'im

The blow n go devices installed here randomly force you to
Blow to keep going.

If you don't, the car stops.

That keeps them from getting A blow job from a stranger!

Well, that sucks!

That sounds like a higher level of service than Paul is looking for. Texts and checks and downloads....
Other than Install and perhaps periodic calibration I wouldn't think any other costs would apply to a voluntary install...
You could call the local department and ask about firms that install.
I imagine they would happily answer your questions..particularly given your reasoning.
As a stupid kid, we established (through multiple calls) that it was legal to walk around town buck neked with a loaded shotgun, as long as you unloaded it to cross the street....
One of the down sides of being a public servant is that you have to answer questions from the public...

In Virginia the systems also require a camera to prevent someone other than the intended driver, from giving a sample.

She went to inpatient rehab about 2 years ago and did well for a while. She has relapsed. I am at a loss as to what to do. This is really tearing me up. She's a sweet, funny, bright, beautiful young woman.

It won’t stop the vehicle for safety reasons but once you cut it off it won’t restart and will require a technician or a tow.

Neighbor’s son left his truck running for 3 days.

That's exactly what I am looking for. I don't need reports of any sort. I just need the car not to start if it detects alcohol on her breath.