| as reliable, Blood Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices | | | | considerably flawed. The IID is rarely granted to |
| are anything but. An Ignition Interlock Device is a | | | | alcoholics, but often first time offenders who |
| cheap breathalyzer which is connected to the | | | | have made a mistake. |
| electrical system of an offender's vehicle. Before | | | | The interlock devices used in Massachusetts use |
| driving, the interlock user must breathe into the | | | | fuel cell technology. This is considerably less reliable |
| device so that it can gauge his or her BAC (blood | | | | than the infra-red technology used in police |
| alcohol content) reading. If the driver's BAC is .020 | | | | breathalyzers. These devices are not alcohol |
| or below, the device allows the engine to start. | | | | specific and a variety of substances other than |
| However, if the driver's BAC is .021 or above, the | | | | alcoholic beverages will register as alcohol. For |
| car will not start. Once the car starts, the driver | | | | example, Attorney Simoneau has personally |
| must periodically breathe into the device. If the | | | | handled cases were common substances such as |
| device registers a BAC which is over a pre-set | | | | protein bars, cough drops, cinnamon, baked goods, |
| limit, a "rolling re-test violation" will occur. These | | | | perfume, hairspray, and favored coffee has |
| rolling re-tests are designed to insure that the | | | | registered as alcohol. Attorney Simoneau has also |
| driver is not drinking while driving and he or she | | | | handled cases were the interlock device has |
| did not have someone else provide the initial | | | | registered alcohol and the driver immediately went |
| breath sample. | | | | to a hospital or police station for a comparison |
| In Massachusetts, an Interlock Device is required | | | | blood alcohol test. In every instance, these tests |
| for anyone whose license has his or her license | | | | and/or police observations completely |
| twice suspended in Massachusetts or any other | | | | contradicted the faulty ignition interlock device. |
| jurisdiction for Drunk Driving or certain other | | | | These are only a few examples of the many |
| alcohol related offenses. There has been agitated | | | | problems associated with interlock devices. Other |
| debate about ignition interlock devices in | | | | problems include defective equipment, frayed |
| Massachusetts since their inception. These devices | | | | cords, and rejection of breath samples. |
| were required for drivers who reinstated their | | | | The ignition interlock device is not a reliable device, |
| suspended license or were on hardship licenses, | | | | and it relies on the "guilty until proven innocent" |
| effective January 1, 2006. Although some claim | | | | mindset. That is not what this country's legal |
| interlock is the answer to many DUI issues, many | | | | system is supposed to represent. No device that |
| experts point out that the device is faulty. | | | | can so easily mistake items like baked goods, |
| Attorney Brian Simoneau has documented | | | | protein bars, mouthwash, and cough drops for |
| numerous instances of false positive readings. | | | | alcohol should be relied upon to suspend |
| False alcohol readings have resulted in 10 year and | | | | someone's license for 10 years or life. The sensor |
| lifetime license suspensions. . | | | | tests BAC through an oxidation reaction to the |
| The ignition interlock device is not completely | | | | breath, unlike the more reliable infrared |
| problematic. Like any debatable item, the device | | | | spectroscopy used in evidentiary breathalyzers. |
| has its benefits. For instance, by preventing people | | | | Therefore, drivers are given a sub-par machine |
| with a high BAC from driving, the device may | | | | that can potentially label them a criminal and |
| possibly keep the roads safer and less prone to | | | | destroy their lives. A person should be innocent |
| accidents during certain hours where heavy | | | | until proven guilty, but with an unreliable detector, |
| drinking is the norm. The Registry of Motor | | | | the opposite is true. |
| Vehicles and Board of Appeal should feel more | | | | Hopefully you are now more educated on this |
| comfortable granting hardship licenses to individuals | | | | matter. Before the laws evolve any more, the |
| with interlock devices. Interlock Devices should | | | | existing laws need to be perfected. No one should |
| allow multiple offenders to keep their jobs so | | | | ever be charged for a violation which they have |
| they can live their lives and support their | | | | not committed and until these devices are proven |
| families.In a perfect world, that may be enough, | | | | to be more accurate, they should not be blindly |
| but this world is not perfect, and the device is | | | | relied upon to suspend someone's license. |