California legislation (AB 91) requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to implement a program that requires individuals convicted for first and repeat driving under the influence (DUI) offenses to install a certified ignition interlock device (IID) on all vehicles they own or operate.
An ignition interlock system is a breath-analyzing device that is wired into the vehicle’s ignition and is installed on the vehicle dashboard. The driver must first exhale into the device before the vehicle can be started. The engine will not start if the interlock detects alcohol on the breath. Then, at random times after the engine has started, the device will require that the driver provides another breath sample. The device will log the event if the breath is not provided or if it exceeds a set blood alcohol level. If this happens, the device will log the event and warn the driver and it will also start an alarm (flashing lights) until the ignition is turned off or a clean breath sample has been provided. Due to safety reasons, the device cannot turn off the car ignition once it has been started. Additional information about the ignition interlock laws in California can be found on Ignition Interlock Device Program Handbook.
