North Carolina Ignition Interlock Program For Drunk Drivers Marks 12Th Year
Nearly 12,000 North Carolina motorists convicted of impaired driving offenses have participated in the state’s ignition interlock program since the first devices were installed in vehicles 12 years ago last month.
Ignition interlock devices record the driver’s breath alcohol content (BAC) on every attempt to start the vehicle. Since July 2000, they are mandatory upon license reinstatement or approval of limited driving privileges for drivers convicted of driving while impaired (DWI) offenses of .16 BAC or greater, which is at least twice the legal limit of .08 for adult drivers.
Drivers convicted of a first DWI offense have a reduced BAC restriction of .04. Drivers convicted of a second DWI offense within a seven-year period have a reduced BAC restriction of .00. (Which demonstrates the zero tolerance policy). Devices are calibrated according to the driver’s restriction.
In 2002, recorded events from 3,511 interlock devices revealed about 7,200 attempts to start vehicles while the driver had a BAC of .04 or greater.
Of those attempts, more than 1,250 were made by interlock users with BACs between .08 and .16. There were 173 attempts by drivers with BACs of 0.16 or higher.
Data from each interlock device is reported to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which can review and even revoke the status of a conditionally restored license.
“We are proud of the job the interlock has done in actually preventing DWI driving offenses by interlock users, which translates into lives saved on our highways,” said Mike Bryant, DMV director of adjudication.
North Carolina’s interlock program clearly plays a role in the state’s reduction of alcohol-related crash fatalities. In December, NHTSA ranked North Carolina No. 9 for achieving a nearly 70 percent decrease in the rate of alcohol-related fatalities between 1982 and 2001. Nationwide, about 41 percent of all fatal traffic crashes are alcohol related. According to NHTSA, the rate for North Carolina is 35 percent.
Interlock devices are installed and maintained at the driver’s expense. The fee for installation and first two months’ service is $170 plus tax, with a fee of $60 plus tax for each additional month of service.
The program began in December 1989 in response to growing concerns about repeat DWI offenders driving during their revocation periods. “At least with the interlock option, the offender could legally qualify for a conditional privilege, obtain insurance, and be forced to prove sobriety while driving,” Bryant said.
The DMV first offered the interlock as an option in the conditional restoration hearing process in December 1989. The first devices were installed on the vehicles of repeat offenders in February 1990. The first year of the program was restricted to 100 participants. Currently, it has 3,511 participants.
