IGNITION INTERLOCKS Preventing Impaired Driving

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IGNITION INTERLOCKSPreventing Impaired Driving

• Michigan Traffic Safety Summit
• March 1, 2006

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Support for Use ofIgnition Interlocks
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Governors Highway Safety Association Supports

• GHSA supports enhanced penalties for first time
  offenders with high BAC levels (e.g., .15 and
  above... The penalties should include license
  revocations, ignition interlocks,
  professional evaluation and treatment.
  Governors Highway Safety Associations Policies
  and Priorities

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UMTRI SupportsReport UMTRI-2002-23a, An
Evaluation of Michigans Repeat Alcohol Offender
Laws Executive Summary

• All sanction combinations that included ignition
  interlocks had the lowest drunk driving
  recidivism rates, while people with sanctions
  involving only driver license suspension/revocatio
  n had the highest rates of recidivism.
• Michigan should redouble its efforts to
  increase the frequency with which ignition
  interlocks are ordered

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MADD Supports

• MADD supports the use of ignition interlock
• devices as an additional penalty and sanction for
• drunk driving offenders. MADD supports laws that
• would require that offenders install these
  devices on
• their vehicles during probationary periods and as
  a
• prerequisite to being issued a limited driving
  permit
• or a probationary or restricted license, where
  such
• restricted permits are permitted by law. 

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Purpose and Operationof Ignition Interlocks
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Separate Drinking From Driving

• Breath alcohol ignition interlock devices are the
  only technology that separates drinking from
  driving.
• Other technologies (PBTs, ankle bracelets)
  measure drinking behavior. They do not prevent a
  vehicle from being started if alcohol is detected.

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What is an ignition interlock?

• Often referred to as breathalyzer in a car.
• Prevents starting of vehicle without passing a
  breath alcohol test.
• Records all breath tests and when vehicle is
  turned on/off.
• Records attempts to circumvent device.

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The Technology

• Wired into Vehicle Ignition System
• Requires Alcohol Free Breath Sample
• Random Testing while Driving
• Records All Driving Behavior
• Methods to deter tampering
• Easy to Use
• Reports to Authorities

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Ignition InterlockDemonstration
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Benefits of UtilizingIgnition Interlocks
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Benefits for the Defendant

• Keep working and earning wages
• Pay Legal Expenses
• Court Costs
• Reduce DWI recidivism
• Successful Interlock programs allow clients to
  earn their way off
• Behavior modification

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Benefits for theJudicial and Licensing Process

• Objective evaluation of behavior modification
• Greater confidence in actions by the offender
• Greater ability to fulfill responsibility to
  insure public safety

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Benefits for the Community

• Improved potential for restoration of offender to
  contributing status rather than being a drain on
  the community
• Financial resources can be focused on other areas
  of need
• Improved traffic safety

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Eliminating Drunk Driving

• Enforcement
• Education
• Treatment
• Technology