What Is an Ignition Interlock Device (IID)?

Do not use hand sanitizer. I had sanitizer in my car and used after cleaning an office. I work for cleaning company used the sanitizer then wigglede my hands to dry them. I smelled the arromma of the sanitizer which has 62 percent alchol and then popped open my cap to drink water as directed. I teseted .032,.030, and then .025. Not sure if it was being in a confined space and smelling it or popping cap for my water. Now I had to pay 50 dollars after i violated 3 times. I had to call smart start. Go down to the hearings officer at registry. That is where I am at now. i am not sure what is going to happen as these people think i was drinking. They never tested hand sanitizer as I asked them. This cost me 50 dollars time and may cost me money on lawyers and god only knows if i will lose my license. I have not drank in two and a half years also. I just wanted to let you people know Do not use hand sanitizer in your car and if you use stay away from a pop cap water mug. You do not want this to happen to you!

I own a ignintion interlock company in WA and you blew as the sanitizer was on your hands and when you inhaled to blow you got some of that alcohol in your lungs and blew high. What a shame, your company knows exactly what happened. Call me with any questions 509-750-1092, Kelly with Blow First

I had the device installed in utah did my duties ie alcohol treatment fines and such. Now I'm in California and this state does not require it but I have one year left to keep the unit according to smart start so they wont remove it. but I'm driving two other vehicles with no device and I'm completely legal. I'm thinking about removing it myself and bringing it to a smart start dealer but I've allready gave my california information to smart start. so will they contact Utah or California? If I get caught am I risking loosing my license?

if you remove it I would send it back to where ever you got it. I am assuming Utah. Smart start in Utah has to report that it was removed to Utah dept of licensing. But I don't believe they would have any reason to tell CA and who would listen. They are busy enough.

I was told that your vehicle has to be in the late 80's before this devise can be installed,can you give me any feed back.Thank you

so now you're beating yourself up for using a hand sanitizer! next time they might fine you and probably charge you for using a mouth wash!I think it's about time you and others
in similar situations stood up for that campaign of injustice and irrationality launched by groups motivated by personal and political agendas or derived by hate and revenge and could
care less about solving problems,improving lives or serving justice.those silly authoritarian DUI laws are just another example of the continuous attempts by those groups to take away our freedom and civil rights in the name of "safety"and
to drag us in the direction of becoming china or north korea!
it's time to fight back and keep America free.

I do think it has gone to far with the interlock devices. It is proven effective though. It is MADD that has pushed things like this to accure. Can you blame them I would be pretty MADD if my kid got killed.
They have taken it a little to far though. It is a good thing but has alot to do about money not just kids getting killed. Alot of lawyers own these company's. They are making alot off of drunk drivers which I do not agree. Alchol is like a disease and this thing should be for the benefit of the people and not the benefit of greedy people with money. making money off peoples misery is not cool. This was not cost efficeient going threw what I did and i paid for my mistake. People will move to another state or just drive with out it is the real problem becasue it cost so much to get threw this! It helps but then it creates more problems and if alchol is considered a disease then it should be alot cheaper.

They have bars and restaurants all over the world. They sell alchol and how many people have a designated driver. Not that many. One drink and you are drunk. If you go out to dinner and have 2 glasses of wine you are a drunk driver. The point I am trying to make is everyone has done it. Unless you do not drink at all. They should be going after the buisnesses and restaurants but they would never do that because of money.

The world revolves around trying to make and get money. This is just another opportunity to do that. There are pro's and con's to everything. All I have to say is just hope it does not happen to you. Did you know that law that just passed was because of Melony that died by a drunk driver. Her father got caught drunk driving a week after the incident. IRONIC isn't it. Someone i know that knows a politician got out of a drunk driving in just one call. When you have money and know people anything is possible. The rest of us are stuck in losing are licenses and making these company's rich with our own stupity!

One thing I do not appreciate is being called a lier. The breathelizer company did not belive me. Man I went threw to much do get my license back to do something stupid and drink and blow into that thing. They did not believe me. I asked them if they tested the hand sanitizer they said no. Then he of course the owner said that it was approved by so state org. Shoot they approve pills all the time and they take them off the market because they kill people. Well going way off course here. I was not drinking and do not like being called a lier. I felt like a guy inprisoned for no reason. I felt low. That is not acceptable. That is why the guy above was freshing to here. he owns his own company and kept his info just incase I have issues with this nonsense.

I agree. There is no longer a human element in the law. It's all about mandates and codesd. They've taken a social norm and turn it int public enemy number one.

Smart Start and the states requiring these interlock devices are only victimizing people with problems.

Whatever happended to you when they violated you for the hand sanitizer?

WOW! Tell me, that you are not THAT stupid! PLEASE! Tell me that you did not get pulled over for drunk driving, taken to jail, get your driver's license taken away, pay thousands in court/lawyer fees, get a mandatory breathalyzer installed in your vehicle so that you could finally get your license back, and then go "WELL, IT'S TIME TO CLEAN MY HANDS WITH GOOD OLE ALCOHOL! YEEEEE HAWWWWW!!" Give me a break. This is a new kind of retard the world has yet to see.

If you have problems with hand sanitizer failing your device, you may also want to watch our for RUBBING ALCOHOL or VODKA. WHISKEY is another big one, that gets a lot of people. Oh and ANYTHING WITH ALCOHOL, SEEING AS IT'S A ALCOHOL DETECTION FUCKING DEVICE!!! I try to remind myself that you people don't really exist, and that this is just a comical gag page, but no. It's real, and you people are really, REALLY stupid!
"I DONE USED ALCOHOL, TO CLEAN MY BREATHALYZER DEVICE...AND IT FAILED!!"
ANSWER- YOU ARE AN IDIOT
"I CALLED THE BREATHALYZER COMPANY OVER AND OVER CAUSE IT FAILED AT 3 IN THE MORNING!"
ANSWER- IT'S 3 IN THE MORNING, CAN YOU FIND ANOTHER BUSINESS OPEN AT THIS HOUR?
"IT'S ZERO DEGREES OUT, WHY WON'T MY BREATHALYZER WORK NORMALLY?!"
ANSWER- MOVE YOUR TV OUTSIDE, OR ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICE, SEE IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS! ELECTRONICS FUNCTION DIFFERENTY IN THE COLD.
"THESE THINGS ARE DANGEROUS! THEY ARE A HAZARD TO MY DRIVING ON THE ROAD!"
ANSWER- YOU WERE CAUGHT DRINKING AND DRIVING TWICE, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING?!?

In summary, if you are an idiot, and most of you are, please stop bothering people. No one wants to hear you.

Dear Kyran - you assume - do you know the breakdown of the word assme? You would be surprised what sets of these systems, in class we were told certain types of bread would make the system fail - so don't eat it. Also, some people aren't lucky enough to have a garage and need to deal with the weather and have an different schedule from yourself. I know some nurses that are out at 3:00 in the morning. We are not all 9Am-5PM people. Just because a person gets caught drinking doesn't make them an idiot, it just makes them unlucky. I know many "upstanding" people who drink more then the legal limit, they are just lucky.

I never once was convicted of a DUI, I refused a ctr, constitutional right. You are the epitome of Smart Start, you are the "idiot" please don't reproduce.

After reading this about the hand sanitizer, i am so upet, I have gotten a fail 4 times today since 10 am this morning, it is now 5 pm..the first time i thought it was my strong toothpaste, so i came back inside and cleaned house, 3 hours later i tried again and i got another fail, i started to cry thinking maybe it was all the fumes from the cleaning products i used, like stop to mop the floor, shower scum remover, bleach, and dusting rags. I came inside, took a shower , changed my clothes thinking i had fumes on my clothing, I failed again... i went over and over in my head what it could possibley be. Then i remembered yesterday after around 3 pm, i wiped down my car with armoral wipes, i didnt touch the system with them but i cleaned down everything else. I drove my car home from the car wash, was able to start it 3 hrs later when i let for dinner and a movie and was able to start the car after 4 hrs at the end of my evening. I parked my car about 11 pm last night and i havent been able to start it since. Im so sick to stomach worrying, and im not sure what to do, i show a fail 4 times in 1 day and my paperwork says if i get 5 in one monitoring period, i will get a locked out and have to go have it reset and pay a fee. I have had the system for 4 months and never failed anything or had any violations, I havent had a drink in over 5 months.

Hey there,
I live in Ma.and have a SmartStartIID in my vehicle...I have had SO many issues with this company and now I've a hearing scheduled for 12/16/08, in Boston, approx. 2 1/2 hrs from where I am in western Ma. I've only had this in my car since 7/1/08 and have had SO many instances where the unit wasn't acting properly, aborting this, aborting that, it's only been 5 months and it feels like a lifetime of hassle. Absolutely no alcohol, nor tampering, and flat out Smart Start has lied to me about how they'd send Boston IID Division a clear and concise statement that "SKIP WAS DUE TO SYSTEM PROBLEM" - and I've documentation for all my encounters with this vendor and their device - but, why in god's name should I have to go through all of this?? I'm "red-flagged" @ the RMV due to what SMartStart stated I had 2 valid missed re-tests in Oct. 08. On 10/08/08 in the parking lot of an AA meeting, where simultaneously turning the ignition off a re-test came on and of course since the engine was turned off it was an immediate missed re-test. Called and reported incident to SmartStart-this exact situation repeated itself TWO nights later, called them AGAIN, of course now I've an InterlockViolation, service @ their 800# now tells me to go to my installer-have it switched from mode 0(key) to mode 1(voltage)...did this the next a.m.-now RMV is doubting me, SmartStart first started out being "helpful"...naive me, of course they won't admit their state-of-the-art device has caused me nothing but hassles...they could lose their standings/contract with being a vendor. My DUI was found in the courts as a 24-D, 1st offense was 1990, was sober for 18 years...now I have to travel from western Ma. to Boston for my hearing, tried Spfld, Ma-no, it has to be done in Boston. AND, they'll suspend my license/right to operate should I not represent myself well(hate speaking in front of people,nevermind this,even though I've info. I've logged w/each problem)...let's see...12/26/08...10 YEARS FOR BEING SOBER AND DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS??? Has ANYONE in Ma. had SmartStart as their vendor? I feel like Erin Brokavitch(?sp)...I shouldn't have to fight so hard for being right...DON'T CHOOSE SMART START AS YOUR VENDOR!!
HELP???? God I pray there is someone out there who'll reply to me!
Thanks so much, and I'm trying like heck to have faith.....Nance

I wish I have something positive to say to help reduce your anxiety and frustration but I think it's more useful to be completely aware of the cold reality of the situation than going to your hearing with a false sense of confidence.away from all the technicalities particular to your case,the reality is,DUI laws and procedures weren't exactly designed
to have the offenders'best interest or convenience in mind nor were they designed to serve justice or improve lives!they're simply meant to make money for the state,attorneys, vendors,labs and alcohol programs"justifiably"at the expense of those"criminals"who had a beer and drove!the attitude towards DUI offenders is they're criminals who have no much credibility and this is in large thanks to MADD!as for the interlock vendor,you're completely right!there's no way in hell the crooks are going to help you out by saying"our product is a fraud"and lose their fat contract!point is,do NOT expect"friends"in that hearing whether you've been doing the right thing for the last 10 20 or 30 years or not because honestly they could care less!if you have the financial means go get a lawyer!be more aggressive when communicating with the interlock people and let them know you're willing to take things to the"next level"if they don't fix the problem. if you can't afford a lawyer,try to get AS MUCH free consultations as possible just to get a good idea about what to expect and how to prepare for it.it's a good thing you documented everything,so if you have to represent yourself you have a solid case.just be calm and collected and remember that you're on the RIGHT.good luck

Personally I Think they should Come STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON ALL VEHICLES That would Cut WAY DOWN on DRUNK DRIVERS KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE

Really are u serious!!!!(@ Thomas) This country has taking enough shit from us now you think they should put an interlock device on ALL vehicles??? Its called a "free world" not let all the anal retentives take over!!

Although many foreign countries ARE putting this as a standard...I have researched IID devices tonight, and many statistics SHOW that the device itself CAUSE accidents. I have one installed on my vehicle. Wouldn't you know, 3 weeks ago I am the middle car in a 3 car collision. The lady behind me was AT TRUE FAULT as I was at a complete stop when she hit me, but I will say...right as I was hit, my device was going off. Driving is dangerous in itself. Cell phones, IID devices, idiot drivers, speeders, even those that are going way below the speed limit, ALL OF THESE THINGS KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE.
I am not condoning drinking and driving. My cousin was killed by a drunk driver. I realize how it tore apart my family..and in high school I was THAT girl that took keys from friends and hid them. Somewhere down the road, I thought I was fine to drive less than 3 miles to my house from the bar I was at. Somewhere down the line I realized I am as guilty as that lady who killed my cousin. ALCOHOLISM IS A PROBLEM. YOU CAN DENY YOURSELF, DENY HELP, AND CONTINUE A DESTRUCTIVE PATH, or you can seek help.
A MACHINE DOES NOT CURE A SICKNESS. EVEN A DOCTOR CANT MAKE SOMEONE QUIT DRINKING.
Although I think your idea is rational, I do not think it is a true preventive. I have had MORE problems with my IID device than I ever would imagine.

I've had my IID unit for about 2 months now. This is my first DUI offense, and I've never had any other alcohol related issues. I don’t even drink much, about once a month maybe. My unit is extremely intermittent; it will work on the 1st or 2nd try sometimes, and will take 10-15 tries others. There have been 2 times over the last 2 months where the unit just won't work; it just keeps aborting. I'm not opposed to the program, but maybe we could get units that actually work. They do exist. I figure the $120/month should cover a more stable unit. If these programs are about making our roads safer, why not extend similar punishments to all potentially fatal driving behaviors such as talking on the phone while driving. Cell phone related deaths are now up to about 2800/year in this country. But that potentially fatal driving behavior is completely legal, and even encouraged. The reason DUI type penalties are not applied to other fatal driving behaviors is due to pandering to a vocal minority group; MADD. If we want safe roads, we have a loooooong way to go. The only way to make our roads safer is for the public to get honest about potentially fatal driving behaviors. In the meantime, we need IID units that actually work.

smart start left me standed @ a gas island 20 miles from the calibration station. The little l e d lights never came on when I tried to start the car. I called the company and they said 2 take it 2 the midas where I take it every month and 2 have him give me a new device. I ended up having 2 spend 40 dollars for a cab 2 take me 2 the midas. What I find particulaly strange is this is the second instance in which smart start left me stranded and they just tell you 2 get a new device but why dont I ever get any sort of documentation from them? This whole system is nothing but a tremendous double standard. And we are forced 2 pay for this !

It is an inconveniance having this goofy interlock. I've had mine for 5 months now. The 1st two months were HELL. It turned out that I had a defective unit. I got the same as everyone else ABORT, ABORT, ABORT, no starting the vehicle, horn going off towing a 32' fifth wheel. I agree it is dangerous. Here is a couple of things that I changed in order to make my life a little easier in dealing with the interlock.
1. Each time the vehicle is shut off, wrap the interlock in a towel. This keeps it from getting to cold in the cold months and too hot in the summer months. ABORT now only happens right after the monthly service is done. Dont know why....it's weird
2. Find your own method of blowing into the interlock and stick with it. Took me awhile to figure this out. Interlock company does not train properly.
3. Don't get frustrated--------you will never get it started...

New Mexico now has a law that requires you to put the interlock in a vehicle for 6 months prior to giving you your license back. Regardless if you own a vehicle or not. No vehicle - No license....Yikes One more month to gooooooooooooooo

Good luck to you all......ABORT is not a violation neither is a missed re-test if the ignition is off it shows up on your monthy report

How many years a person have to use it in the state of South Carliona I would like to know.

How many years a person have to use it in the state of South Carliona I would like to know.

Wow I'm in the same exact boat. Sober for 12 years and got the start smart in my truck.Just hit my 2 yr anniversary for the IID and had alot of isssues with the device. Mainly in the colder seasons. I would blow and pass then start driving, but the device would be asking me to blow right after starting the vehicle, without beeping or giving me a timer like usual. I would look down at it from time to time to watch for a rolling restart to see I was already violated for missing it. SMART START tech support told me that i had a bad battery. (yeah right) was a brand new honda ridgeline. Violated me once for leaving the ignition in the on position while i was washing the car even though it wasn't running. I had the ignition on to roll up and down windows as i walked around the vehicle to wash all the windows.I would like to see those jerks at the registry try and use these devices for one month without getting a violation. Hope everything works out for you. ---Don

I am a spouse of this "SAFE PRODUCT ".I cant even begin to express the GRIEF and frustrations this piece of shit has given ME when I try to use his truck.ABORT WONT RESPOND ABORT ABORT ABORT,then I get a false point when I cant even blow into that goddam thing and get it to respond.It happened more in the wintertime. I have heard of documentations of this product being defective but cannot seem to find it anywhere.I know theres more people out there suffering from the same crap,this cannot be an isolated case. Im curious if there is a class action lawsuit against smart start interlock anywhere because it has caused countless times of me almost getting into a car accident than any other distraction I have ever encountered out in the road.

I wrote a long letter and my computer? or who I'm writing to?
....I lost it. So, I'll keep this simple. I will sign up and help
anyone who wants to start a lawsuit re: Start Smart, especially the one
on Arctic Ave. in Anchorage Ak. My life was literally ruined by this
stupid (though, staff will swear on their heart that I (we) the customer
is at fault........
Not the young girls, I found them very pleasant, BUT, the owner---whoa,
you don't want any confrontation with her. In 7 months and 6 different
hand held devices, I was literally ready to attack them with law suits
and better business, etc. My device and every different on they let me
try had me in a panic as I work babysitting from 6pm until 4am in Eagle
River (30 min. drive). 3 times I have had to call my husband who works
until 8am and beg him to come get me as the device just kept aborting
and buzzing after I already passed and my car started. I have spent
lot's of money for cab drivers to pick me up and the next day come back
and give my BRAND NEW BATTERY a charge and drive an hour to keep the
charge. I have tried at least 5 different devices from this company
that caused me nothing but anxiety, fear, apprehension because I could
not count on it working properly. The first 2 months were fine.......so
what happened? They started switching the hand piece (they call head
piece), and the device hasn't worked yet. The owner (my opinion: was a
bitch). I came to my monthly service and experience the exact same
thing. It passed and let me start my car and then the re-test kept
aborting and counting down 6 min. But, I thankfully got my car to their
lot and (now down to 1 minute, finally passed). My anger was high
because I stopped using my car for the passed month (May)and my fiance/
was my taxi..Is this fair? I think not..........Whatever! I'm one tiny
voice, but if we get more and more tiny voices maybe we can get rid of
their faulty devices and rude customer relations. I NOW HAVE DRAEGER,
AND OHHHHH! I SOOOO LOVE IT...........IT'S SIMPLE FAST,
ADEQUATE......AND THE SERVICE IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL, POLITE ANSWERS
QUESTIONS AND GIVES YOU THE OPTION TO CALL 24 HRS A DAY. THEIR
PHILOSOPHY IS DO YOUR TIME, YOU MADE A MISTAKE (I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT
ONE TIME OFFENDERS); AND GO ON WITH YOUR LIFE.............
THANK YOU! THANK YOU DRAGER. CRAZY: BUT,, I LOVE YOUR DEVICE........

Please contact me.Have myself and others who would like to unite to stop exactly the same situation that you had .Thanks

I was with Smart Start in Alaska for 5 years. I loved them. I cannot believe that you would say any of them are rude. You must have been a bitch to them. I never had bad service and I should have them file a lawsuit against you for slander. They can sue you for slander and for any loss of business if they chose because of your comment and the video guy that is illegal to take a video without permission. I think I am gonna call them so they can file a lawsuit against you and the other one.

Hey"I love them" You obviously work for them so shutup and stupid person you need to check the laws about recording,it varies staet to state. Knock your self out ..I hope it does go to court,so do 1000s of people just like me.

"I hope it does go to court,so do 1000s of people just like me."- Dianne

These people are called idiots. What a nutcase. I had to imagine some ditsy bimbo lady's voice in my head as I read your blog, because, like, you totally ramble on about nonsense, and then like you totally called your husband, and then you had a battery, UUUGGGHH!! ::punches self in face:: No wonder you had problems! Jesus lady! You use to drink??? I am so glad breathalyzers are available to go in vehicles such as yours because you probably got pulled over with your phone in your ear, cigarrette in your mouth, painting your nails, drying your hair with a beer between your legs singing spice girls!!!

Keep your replies,you're an idiot abd I'm sure a IID employee,no one really wants to hears your biased thoughts.

Awe! You done hurt my feelings darlin! Apparently this website be for people who are retarded and can't SPELL correctly. (Pssst! Deb, I am talking to you!) ;) Wink Wink

I work for an IID company in the south eastern United States and I must say that nearly ALL that I have read here is complete and utter nonsense. The IID device is a wonderful system with few malfunctions other than operator error. To all of you complaining about the device malfunctioning because of continual aborts might want to read your manuals that came with the installation of the device in your vehicle. An abort is when YOU don't take the test correctly. A malfunctioning device will NEVER show up as an abort unless you, the person convicted of a DUI who opted for this mode of consequence as opposed to jail, aren't following the isntructions your service center trained you on to succesfully complete the test. Most devices require 1.5 liters of air over a 5-6 second test. 1.5 liters, really? That is 3 water bottles of air. 1/3 of a full balloon. That is a shallow breath at most for an average person, smoker or not. Concerning what I read about hand sanitizers causing a fail on the device, improbable.... How long does it take for a hand sanitizer to evaporate? 10 seconds at most? And you claim that on 3 retests, a minimun of 15 minutes apart, that you had sequential fails with diminishing levels of alcohol in increments of .005 each time? Dubious at best is my response to that! How will something that evaporates in 10 seconds cause alcohol readings 45 minutes later? I call bullshit. And to those of you who claim it is a hazard to drivers to take retests while driving, grow up. It gives you 6 minutes to pull over and take the test in a safe environment. It takes 5 seconds to take a test. Less time than it takes to identify and depress a window switch to roll down your window. If you can't find a safe place to pull over and take a test in 6 minutes then you shouldn't be driving in the first place. And the IID device will always be installed in plain sight, not in your blind spot as many vehicle control functions are. IIDs save lives and inhibit drinkers from drinking and driving. They are an opportunity for those who break the law to continue to be functioning members of society. So suck it up and follow the program, or enjoy your walk to work.

This is the problem with the people that work for these companies. You can actually see this person looking down there nose at you as they type that message. I have had 2 faulty devices in a row!!! Taking the device inside doesn't mean its going to work...trust me. Its hilarious this person would defend a company thats first response if you call with a device problem is "bang it on something hard" ME:"WHAT" SmartStart Rep:"No Harder!" I think to myself as I'm banging this piece of electrical equipment that is basically responsible for me to get my license back against the side of my truck "this is bull$%#!" Then they act like you must be drinking or you are a bad person or a liar. Its a Joke and I feel I would have a good lawsuit if I were so inclined, this device has cost me time, hundreds of dollars in gas to have repairs done, and an unmeasurable amount of anxiety. It actually gave me 5 misses in one night while I was using my truck to help my friends move. Locked me out. When I went in they said I failed!!! Same when we called showed failed with a .000 alcohol content!!!! Still locked me out still charged me then later applied toward service. I would have no problem with this device if it worked. Horrible device and even worse "customer service" by people like this joker up here thats better than all of us losers with DUI's. What smug jerk

2 faulty devices in a row? You even took the device inside AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK??? Unfortunately, in the Interlock industry we have a clientel which differs from that of normal customers. You see at a retail job, you have about 90 percentile of customers who are your normal people, and the rest of the remaining ten percent are flaming dickholes. Now in the Interlock industry, stretch that ten percent to about eighty, and take flaming dickholes and add alcoholic, wifebeating, irrate assraping douchebags whos sole purpose in life is to complain about everything that isn't fair in life and then blame it on everything else, like this website. So nobody is defending a company over you, we are just informed and experienced and are a little sick of the "uh, it was mouthwash!!!" or "I was eating Pizza and was still chewing and IMMEDIATELY BLEW INTO THE DEVICE WITH FOOD IN MA MOUTH CAUSE I'M A SLOBBERING MORON!" excuses. There are some honest people who are trying to get through this program, and you other people are fucking it up for them. But you don't care. That's why these websites exist, for you selfish, douchecanoe lifer alcoholics. You think all the "innocent people found their way to a fifty cent website and are about to revolt against a great injustice in this world, or maybe the greater likely is that you are a giant fuck-up in life, and you want to bitch at someone, and the people that are put in those postions to listen to your stupid lying asses are there because no one else will put up with your crap long enough actually work at a place where nine out of ten people who walk in your doors are lying all the time, have horrible alcoholic tempers, and would love nothing more than to cheat the system for the "great injustice" that has wronged them.

No one want s to deal with you people for a reason. It's because you are the rejects of society that are JUST staying out in public and away from jail by the hair of your ass. So everyone that is complaining about your breathalyzer, just remember, YOU PUT YOURSLEF IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE YOU ARE A FUCKING LOSER, SO FUCK OFF!

So you work in the interlock industry, yet you are going off about how much you hate and how big of losers the people who have to have a breathalyzer in their car- the same people that are keeping your company in business. I have a breathalyzer in my car from one bad choice I made after I turned 21, I am not a loser or a bad person. Nearly everyone has drove after drinking, a lot of people are just lucky and dont get caught. But really though, keep going off a out how awful the people are that are keeping your company in business. YOU are the loser.

I can't help but laugh at these IID "techs", they all must be off spring of Larry, Mo and Curly, I challenge anyone of you morons to come blow into my device, when you can't pass and start my vehicle on your first attempt you can start with the one behind my zipper

give me some advice. i put myself in this situation. But i cant get this thing to be consistent in starting my car. Ive tried ALL day today and its worked once. they keep telling me i'm doing it wrong....are these things that sensitive to my blowing and hummiing?? it works fine for day and the next day is a nightmare. i'm ready to take it out and try another company but im not sure if the courts will even let me....i cant go anywhere with any confidence cause i may get stuck there for hours trying to blow/hum correctly, i have the 20/20 thing from smart start. Customer svc must get alot of mean calls cause when i call them they are rude and i tell them yes i'm fustrated but it's not your fault, i dont yell, cus at them at all, i ask for help and they tell me i'm doing it wrong....what i did yesterday isnt working for today,,,,,its like this thing has a mind of its own....any advice would be aprciated

Thanks

I am using the Interlock device. This is a nightmare. I can understand very well all the frustration people are going through. This device is causing me and my family a lot of mental anguish. I feel like my life and my future is in the hands of all the people that are making money out of my problem. I also used the hand sanitizer and the machine reported a positive. I have tryed to explain to the Interlock provider and they say there is nothing that they can do. I did have to go to an evaluation and the evaluator did not beleive me. She insinuated that I have somebody in the car that blow for me when I initially started my car. I explained to her that if that was the case, I would ask that person to blow for me again, at that point she was speechless. She even went as far as to bring my past drinking problem in the evaluation. I am paying for my mistakes. I paid my dues to society, but still is hunting me, by people that are suppose to be professionals. This is getting so unreal. I live in fear that this will happen again and I will loose my Driver License. I am trying to have my own business and I am very serious. The last thing that I will do is to drink and try to blow. As a matter of fact drinking is not in my mind anymore. But the people that are suppose to help are nothing bu ACUSSERS. I read an article from an Attorney in New York where he stated that Ignition Interlock users are guilty until proven innocent. What an irony.

The politicians and all the people that approved this device know that this is not an accurate machine, but with no consideration they put in the market. Trying to save lifes??? Doubt it very much. When you are driving in the Highway and the beeping starts you get so nervous and blowing is the only thing in your mind; therefore your attention to the road is not a 100%.

I am not against a device that works. I am completely against with what it is in the market at this time. I pray to God that this nightmire ends soon.

If there is a class lawsuit, I will sign for it and also my wife, she is also going through a hard time. She could not believe how many times the device sounds in a less than a 45 minute drive on the highway and how distractive it can be when you are driving.

I live in alaska... these things don't work in the cold. Friday it kept saying "abort tamper" for half an hour. I thought i was stranded on campus. Tonight it gave me a 2 rolling violations. I turned the engine off then on again, and it said i passed... how can i go from sober to drunk, back to sober, in five minutes? am i a magician? Now i have to bring it in, and hope they don't try to send me back to jail for this freak glitch. if you have to have an iid, can't they make them reliable. i refuse to go to jail for something i did not do.

Hi, Nance-- my dad has the machine on his car and just like you it is not very reliable... my father is 70+ years old and had his first offense 30+ years ago... and it has been awful... I am working with him to document the issues but no one want to listen or help... I always get "this is the law" and we can't help you... Did you get your issued resolved in any way???

Smart Start has ruined our lives. The device is inherently flawed. Abort,
Abort, Abort, Abort, Anxiety Attack, Tears, Suicidal Thoughts.

Den

Wow!!! How so very well put. This is the exact type of apprehension and anxiety I had every time I went to drive my car.........And this has so put such frustration and anxiety, not knowing when or if my car would start.

Perfect and straight to the heart! Good Writing Den!

I know what you mean. I am suffering the same things. I am losing weight, can't eat and yes a very real feeling of wanting to down a bottle of sleeping pills. Never want to drive again which then I guess would render me and my kids homeless.

I am going through the same. I have the intoxalock and the thing lets me start it but 4 minutes later it will fail me. Then it will pass me 3 minutes later.Every time this happens it cost me about 80.00. The other day i had just put a new one in my car and took the breath test and it past. I went to the post office to sent the other one back like i do every month. i came home and did not use the car till the following day.I blew and it past , 4 minutes later on a rolling re-test it faild. After 9 minuter and 3 test later it past. Icalled the police from my car to ask for a breath test from them to show my P O that i was not drinking and they would not come.They said that the machine must not be working and to try again.I am so stressd out by this thing. I have hep-c and have not had a drink in over 2 years. The company said that all kinds of things will trigger a positive reading, but in the meantime my P O says "you must be a pathetic alcoholic." I am thinking about moving to the city so i don't have to drive.

Please contact me Myself and others are interested in stoping the smartstart nightmare.Lets pull resources. Thanks

I am getting so anxious about this machine. I blew a failed test today. I feel like dying. Ive been thinking about suicide and all kinds of stupid thoughts.

i went with smartstart as my interlock vendor it will be 3 months in another 2 weeks, its been like a bad dream, dozens of aborts, one after another, i had to get a new unit just recently, the frist one they gave me was messing up all the time, it would just start beeping, reading abort, abort. i was using up my Violations due to no fault of my own,bottom line this is all about making money, nothing else, iam convinced of that, i had to change cars just recently, i costed me 203 dollars to re-install my divise in the the new car, then allmost another 100.00 to due a recalibration,all in the same day, i cant take it anymore, i drive for a living, somtimes 300 miles in a day, that means many stops, and rolling tests all day long, well over 30 tests in just one day, it really is not fair, i think iam going to sell my car and finish my last 9 mons off without driving, dont get a dui, and dont use smart start,BE SMART

My wife went into labor as I incurred an "abort pump". Smart Start is useless and just mean. I had to have my car towed to the shop at my expense. I also have somehow missed rolling retests and I have been sober 9 years, failed a retest 2 mins after blowing it started and then passed 1 min later. This whole interlok is a scam and I even have a court order for a full reinstatement. God will punish the Smart Star lobbyists who forced bad technology onto good people, shame on you Smart Start!

Hello. I've had the same problem with my Smart Start Interlock device. Within about 3 seconds after shutting my car off, sometimes it will ask me for a retest and will automatically give me a violation. I will blow anyway so that the calibration shows that I had a successful PASS, seconds after my "refusal" to retest. I have this documented and tried to send this to the DMV person and she told me that it was my fault and still made me keep it on an additional month. The Smart Start is nothing but a moneymaking scheme and I'm thinking about contacting my attourney. Any thoughts?

I reside in California and I cannot find the rules and regulations guide for two car owners. I am on the registration an my husband also, however I would like to know why my civil rights need to be violate? I am not the one who the interlock is issued to.

I live in Austin TX. I am still waiting to go to court but as a condition of my bond I have to have an IID installed on my vehicle. I had a Dreager Saftey IID installed on my truck for over a year without a single problem. I had one violation in the morning due to mouthwash. I usually give it 20-30 minutes before starting and I'm fine but I was running late one day and violated. I now require a camera enabled unit. Guess what? Smart Start is the only vendor in the nation that carries such a device. Tell me theree isn't some financial and political backscratching going on here. Anyhow, I had my unit installed on Aug 7. I left that evening to the coast with my family for a little weekend beach fun. The next morning after I got everybody loaded into the car, the device quit working. No lights, nothing. Within 24hrs of having the unit installed it failed. Their customer service representative, Miguel, advised me I would have to have the vehicle towed (at my expense) to the nearest service center, which was 45miles away. (Corpus Christi) I called the service center and they were able to talk me through bypassing the system to avoid having to pay a $250 tow fee. The tech, (Luis) advised me to come in to have them look at it. When I arrived about an hour later I found that he had gone to a car show and would not be back until Monday. Another gentleman at the shop (I neglected to get his name) was able to put in a jumper wire to keep the vehicle operating normally until I could bring the unit back in for service in the Austin shop.

When I took the unit back in to be repaired I had to wait for almost 5 hrs because the installer had to put in several units until he found one that "worked".

Within 48hrs the camera mount had fallen down onto my dash. Thus forcing me to hold the camera while taking a breath test. This means I have to pull over every time I have to take a test. Ordinarily this would not be a problem but in my case it is. This is because the device is asking for a breath test every 2-3 minutes. I have to pull over 2-3 times going to and from work because the device is asking for so many samples. I live 7 miles from my job and it takes me at least 30 minutes each way now.

This afternoon I got in my vehicle and the unit was displaying the error message "Recall Cam Post" and would not let me start the vehicle. I called the technical support line and was put through to the "on-call service technician". He advised me to reset the unit by disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery for 30 seconds. I tried that but still got the same error. I called back to see if he could come out but he was not located in TX. There is no on-call service techian. He told me that I would have to wait until 9:30am on Monday before I could contact my local service center. This is extremely poor service coming from "the nation’s premier provider of ignition interlock services and technology."

The unit I had installed from Draeger Saftey never once had a single issue in over a year of service. I've had Smart Start for less than 3 weeks and this is the third time I'm having to have service on my vehicle. This is not only a hinderance on my personal travel schedule but I have to take time off of work to have this service performed.

The unit has also given me 3 false violations when there is no presence of alcohol ANYWHERE in the car..and no I wasn't drinking the night before. Their equipment is just junk. I advise people to go with ANYONE but Smart Start.

My wife has had the exact same issues on my vehicle. Recall Cam Post is one of many! This thing is a piece of crap. I also wonder why have to have this thing on a vehilcle I own, but she drives.

The latest malfunction may have cause her a probation revocation. She has not drank at all since her initial traffic stop that has all but ruined our lives!..The latest failure occured at 10:30 am on Augusat 5th and she was heading to the doctors office with the kids!She tried to start the car twice and it wouldn't start and showed a fail. So she called her doctor and cancelled her appointment. She tried to start the car later in the afternoon and it started. She was definately not drinking!

I'm sure this thing is a money grab and these things are programmed to fail and continue to cost us all money!

I've had it, and am considering taking her off the insurance and not having her drive until the 1 year requirement is over. I'm getting this piece of shit out of my Hummer!

And then YOU have to pay for THEIR malfunctions and they will NOT refund your money for towing or anything like that.
I hope other states do what N.C. did and do not allow smart start to work in their state!!

i would like to know if there are descent lawers out there that would fight for us and the people dealing with DEFECTIVE smart start and the REGISTRIES knowing of this.im not even an individual with any dui's and have suffered physically and mentally.with all the tests they have for everything nowadays they CANNOT say they have no knowlege of smart start reacting to MOUTHWASH and HAND SANITIZER!!! that would be BULLSHIT they know it and they keep taking advantage.i have to use the vehicle too and i dont drink and oddly enough....smart start claims i do.ATTENTION SMARTSTART AND THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS...I DONT DRINK LISTERINE OR EAT HAND SANITIZER

I think you should contact your attorney, and when you do, contact me. Because I am thinking of doing that also. My smartstart device stopped working and when I called them they told me that I had to pay to tow the car to my car to the shop and they would refund my money. So I did, and I had to keep my car there for 3 days only to put an older model that takes minutes to start. I CAN GET ROBBED IN THE MEANTIME. It is dangerous and the company will not do anything about it. I want to go through another company and smartstart will not allow me, I feel imprisoned by them. I really think a law suit or at least an investigation should start against them.

Also, one time I blew all 6 violations due to food in my moutsh or mouthwash and just I paid to get an extra 6 violations. So if I had been drinking, it wouldn't stop me from drinking and driving. All it does it makes me pay more to drink to drive. So yes, it is a moneymaking scheme. And If any other people want to join to start a lawsuit, lets do it!!!

Contact me and lets get legai represntation and put a stop to their extortion!!!!

i am writing inregards to a law siut for the IID.... my phone number is 970-456-6882..

thank you
dana

SmartStart is not safe, and from my point of view, it is a pure torture device. I have physical conditions that make SmartStart inoperable for me. Lung capacitity is one, (probably from breathing harsh chemicals and asbestos over 30 years), I run out out of capacity in 12-12.5 seconds of testing, (I timed it), and this thing wants 14-16 seconds, impossible for me to do. If I push to make it's time frame, I get lightheaded and dizzy. If I keep trying to make it work, it also aggravates my physical disabilities. I have been left stranded for 3.5 hours trying to make it work one afternoon/evening after work. I was laid up for two days with physical pain and agony because of this torture device afterward. I consider this a form of cruel and unusual punishment in violation to the constititon of the US amendment V111. And I had this be known time and again, to the installing party. That I WILL NOT stand for, nor subject, myself to torture.

I have had the interlock since february. I have had three different issues with this stupid machine. I used to hear people talk about how they had gotten false positives when they hadn't touched a drink and was like RIIIGHT. But now I completely believe. The first was when I was at a third interview for a job. I came out after waiting an hour to be seen and blew into the machine. It failed me..WHAT? Then I immediately blew again and it passed. However the MVA still considers this a fail, despite there is no way I could have metabolized a .30 reading in a matter of seconds had I truly had a drink. Mind you I'm pregnant during these episodes as well. The next one was they told me I had a rolling retest disconnect which A. is not true because I never unplug my handset period..even though you can, I always leave it in the car. B. on my report it said that they had put in the year 2008 for the time periods not 2009. The last one was last month, I had worked all day at my job, picked my daughter up and was in the grocery store parking lot when it asked for the rolling retest. I blew and it failed me! Later I would come to find out that it read a .38 and I had already started the car and had nothing to eat or drink in the interim. Now mind you I do have asthma and all my inhalers contain alcohol..but I was told as long as I rinse my mouth after using them it would be fine. I'm not even sure if that's what set it off or not..I doubt it..I think it was just a malfunction because supposedly if you have a rolling retest disconnect your horn goes off and same thing if you refuse or fail the rolling retest. In both situations I just immediately blew again and passed and no horn dispite my supposed "fail". I hate this thing and as I said am pregnant and don't need the stress of wondering whether the stupid thing will fail me for absolutely no reason. I choose not to drive if I can help it at all because it gives me so much agida driving it. Luckily the car is in my mom's name and I am not working right now due to pregnancy complications. I am going to tell them she needs her car back and just take the 90 day suspension. It's THAT bad.

Yes it is that bad, which is why driving is a priviledge that I do not want for the next two and a half years!!!

I hate my smart start!!!! I want to break that F*&king thing!!! One month and already 4 violations! I'm not drinking or anything! Same problem...gettting violations when I turn off the vehicle. Something to do with my battery and fuel line also, cuts the engine a bit and smart start restarts and who knows what it'll say next! Some days it just goes crazy and and asks me to blow, so I'll blow into the damn thing, then it dosen't even register...nothing. I have to turn the vehicle off and then on for it to respond to anything. Auugghhh! Who Do I kill for this torture?! BTW it's my sister's fault and the family is taking the hit for this! I got to get to work also! grrrrrr!

Maybe you shouldn't have been drinking and driving. LOL BURNED!!!! THATS WHAT YOU GET ALKIE!!! ROFLMAO!

uhhh...I just said that it wasn't I that was drinking and driving, you dumb fuck. Learn to read jack ass. Not suprised by a comment such as yours also. Throw those stones bitch! Get back at me while I get through with your woman!

Before you judge Greg or any of us maybe you should find out the situation behind what happened. I wasn't drinking at all when I got pulled over - blew a 0.00. But I am paying for it now.
Don't judge lest you be judge.

I smell lawsuit i'm telling you!!! smart start is a moneymaking scheme.

I have created a small portable device that will allow you to pass your test every time. It tricks all the sensors on the IID including humming, air pressure, temperature, etc.

Not sure how or why I'm on a "beat an IID" adventure today, but I am and your comment has my attention. I am really looking for (and not having any luck)infomation on how an IID works; wiring diagrams etc. Apparently it's illegal to publish this info? Anyway I'd really like to learn how your circumvention device works. You can post it here or email me at: makeyouscream@breakthru.com

Thanks!

trying to learn about this

interested in your device. can you e-mail me some info

Please contact me at hdawkins410@aol.com - I am in desperate need to hear more about your device

I'd like to hear more about your device. Please contact me at:clooncagh@yahoo.com

please send more info about your device

Would like more info email lzzygecko@aol.com

Can i get court ordered one of these smart starts when i dont own a vehicle in my name? This does not make any sense to me. I am not sure what to do?

If you wouldn't have had the alcohol, you wouldn't have had to put one of these things on your cars in the first place! Does this not make sense to anyone here?! I know people that work for the Interlock industry and who can blame them for making money off your mistakes? Somebody has too! You would if you were in their positions! All the lawyer that you all are getting ready to call will be doing the same thing too. Making money off of your misfortune or should I say, making money off the fact that you (at some point in your lives) chose to drink and drive.
For all those that say they have trouble with the devices and it was their sister, mother, brother, dog's, roommates fault...why did you allow it to be put on your car? Or...why are you using their car if it gives you so much trouble?
How many of you are going to drink and drive again knowing you'll have to put up with the devices if you get caught?
Maybe it is doing it's job and you just don't realize it!

well, if all you have to do is pay more for extra violations, how is that doing its job? have you thought of that? i'm sure you haven't 'cause you live this boring ass life where you try to follow all the rules, but in reality i bet you have your little skeletons in your closet that would prove otherwise, so don't come in here or anywhere critizing or judging people without judging the bitch in the mirror first!

I would have to believe that the folks struggling with the iid's have already done their penance and are abundantly aware, every time they blow into the device, why the device is in their vehicle. These devices have been shown to have quirks that put the driver and their passengers at risk as well as any vehicle around them. They give false readings, or just plain out fail. Everyday household items such as hairspray and hand sanitzer can cause violations. Sometimes the client will have to blow several times while driving to get a passing reading, taking away from attention to driving and causing the driver to become light headed/dizzy. I have even heard of the mouthpiece falling out causing the driver to scramble to quickly find it on the floor of the car or get another one in place before they run out of time to perform their rolling test. In this country, the people are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty but in the case of the iid..all bets are off. I am not saying a person guilty of dui should not be obligated to follow their punishment through..but it should be fair. Clients pay their monthly fees for calibration and if they are following the program rules, should in return be able to expect a product that is reliable and have access to respectful customer service and tech support in the event of system failure. In the case of iid..the clients are automatically labeled guilty and forced to pay additional fees and without just cause, extend their sentence. I feel like I need a shower after talking about this..the industry is dirty.

On their webpage it CLEARLY states that you can talk to a real person 24/7. However if you call after 5 it will say that their afterhours is closed, which is weird because that's the reason why its called after hours. It gives you a message to contact somebody, but that number is only a message to another number and clearly states not to leave a message. The other number is another message which says they may or may not call you back after they hear your message. So how exactly is this talking to a real person 24/7. I'm still waiting for the "Emergency Service" guy to return my call. Eventhough by now I already called a tow truck and am home after smart start's equipment gave out! No violations nothing like that, it just did not work any longer. And I have to pay out of my pocket for their malfunctions and on top of that can't even talk to a real person? Isn't that false advertising? Isn't that enough grounds to break the lease contract?

I passed out while blowing on my IID and went of the road hit my head and almost died. Has anyone else heard of this what legal action is there?

I am also passing out from blowing so hard . Then wake up with terrible headache i guess i need to quit my job but i dont know how or were i will live . I guess a shelter

I almost passed out from laughing so hard at your stupidity! I BREATHED TO HARD AND I ALMOST FELL DOWN AND HURT MYSELF! LOL! WOW! How do you get dressed everyday ALL BY YOURSELF!?

This equipment is extremely inacurate and glitchy and the customer service is horrible. I have NOT been convicted of a DUI, I had my license revoked by MVD and I am NOT guilty of drinking and driving. Saying that for all the judgemental jerks that think I deserve to have to put up with all the problems of trying to comply with this piece of garbage equipment that says I failed the test, aborts constantly, gives me Low temp messages and won't start, won't start, won't start!!!! Call that 24/7 number and you get put on hold for at least a half hour. It has to be 24/7, you'd never get ahold of anyone - you'll be waiting 24/7.

I recently had a smart start iid installed in my vehicle and have had nothing but problems. If you call the company with issues, they are extremely discourteous and hostile. "The device doesn't malfunction." I understand confidence in one's product, or even motive behind the statement, but this is far to invasive. Mine locked out for who knows why; I drove 80 miles from out of town, when I got into town, the device wouldn't go into standby mode, I had to test every TWO MINUTES! I must have taken well over 200 tests that day. I failed 2 of them, after 2 minutes of taking one, I failed, immediately took another one and passed. Twice. It is possible I did mess the third one up, but then there were retests that came about that I missed and got locked out. I am making Smart Start aware of my intention to file suit with their establishment here in Anchorage, AK. I always get a good response with the local news team, so I will make them aware of this travesty that happens all over the states, and in our own. I am also contacting the Better Business Borough. If anyone has any information on current lawsuits, won lawsuits, technical information regarding the devices, information about discontinuing smart start in their state etc. please send me an e-mail at eismccc@yahoo.com. I will not stand for this, it has taken me over 2 years to get my license back, I pay good money for this device and the service, both of which are incredibly faulty.

Ohhh boy!! I just got some juicy video of my encounter at Smart Start, including the employee droppin F bombs and calling me an ass. She became "very upset" when I told her that the device was malfunctioning, she then told the technician to remove the unit from my vehicle. Her reasoning for this decision was because I was, "...being an ASS to us..." I'll have the videos online soon, because I know there are hundreds of us out there with these type of experiences and worse. Email me if you are interested in whats going to happen, eismccc@yahoo.com. or smartstart@geminidynamic.com.

We got ours pulled out also. We stopped using that vehicle because the device, to put it very mildly, is a piece of s#*t. We watched your video
and when we tried to get to our next monthly "service" appointment, it passed, off we go then abort, abort, abort about 20 times. The place is only 2 miles away! When we finally got there I guess we acted out in a inappropriate manner. We're trying Draeger now and it's going good.

AK Den

After 6 months of trying to work with these people: complaining, getting a different hand set........nothing, absolutely nothing helped. I drive home 30min. from work babysitting and the device asks for another blow and all I get is abort,blow,abort,blow......at lest 20 times at 4am. I was losing my mind and experienced panic and anxiety as I no way what so ever wanted to go to jail for another 3 daYS. These people and their crazy equipment ruined my life as a free human U.S. citizen. But they would not hear a thing....Finally after getting caught driving a car without the device because I HAD TO! I too went to Drager, and wow, I LOVE IT. Any one having problems, please: it cost only a little more but it is soo worth the money. Guaranteed no aborts, or cars not starting, rood people who insist the client is wrong. Crazy enough, but I do absolutely love Draeger IID ignition, interlock device.........What a blessing compared to the disturbed people at Smart Start.

Ohhh boy!! I just got some juicy video of my encounter at Smart Start, including the employee droppin F bombs and calling me an ass. She became "very upset" when I told her that the device was malfunctioning, she then told the technician to remove the unit from my vehicle. Her reasoning for this decision was because I was, "...being an ASS to us..." I'll have the videos online soon, because I know there are hundreds of us out there with these type of experiences and worse. Email me if you are interested in whats going to happen, eismccc@yahoo.com. or smartstart@geminidynamic.com.

I have had 3 problems with Smart Start. I have found out that a glazed dount and York peppermint patty will set things off...but I spent 1 week at home because of the "abort". I have been into the tech's (which in my area are very nice) for lessons to use this device. I have had telephone lessons..

I had my device monitored last week and have been having trouble ever since. This morning I had a "violation" for only God knows what reason.

This whole process has cost me thousands. The county where I was stopped has a "sting" operation every two weeks. When I registered a "warn", they called and said I would be jailed.

IS THERE A LAWSUIT IN THE FUTURE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE?

Recently, I tried to start my car and my smart start recorded a VIOLATION! I haven't had a drop to drink in months so it freaked me out that the car didn't start like it had been (I got the smart start in March). I took some deep breaths, drank a ton of water to make sure I washed anything out, and took the test again. Of course this time I passed and then passed another rolling re-test a few minutes later before I got home so I felt somewhat validated.
I'm ASSUMING the technician at smart start will see this on the report and somehow mark it as OK? I talked to my PO and she said not to worry, that if it had been alcohol that I had drunk, the level would have risen after drinking the water, not fall back to 0. But I'm still anxious about it. I have been doing EVERYTHING right during probation and now I've got this false test result on my report. Plus, sometimes the smart start lets me crank the car without asking for a test. It immediately asks after the car cranks, but that still seems like something is faulty there. Should I be calling smart start when this stuff happens?!

Does anyone know what happens now? Who gets these reports? What impact is it going to have on my probation? I'm only supposed to have this thing on my car for 4 more months, are they going to extend it? or worse?

My next meeting with my PO is on 5/20, so I'll be asking her all of this then, but I need to know if anyone has gone through this before and what typically happens?!
I just want this to be over with and done so I can move on with my life!

I'm having the same problem with my smart start device. I had it installed on 6/10 and had a few abort problems and a missed violation from then until 9/10. My PO didn't care as long as it didn't show any alcohol. In 10/10 the device gave me FALSE violations 3 times in one week. I would pass, start the car, fail the rolling test, then past the rolling retest. I called smart start and they said to have the device swapped when I went in for calibration again. MY PO began to think that I was drinking even though I had been pleading with her the previous months to try something else. On 11/10 they gave me another device and it randomly gave me warnings but no violations. In 12/10 I got hit with one false violation. Now in 1/11 I've gotten 5 false violations in one week. I go in for calibration tomorrow and will have to ask them for another device. I've not had a drink since my DUI in 3/10. All the guys at the calibration shop think I'm the cause of the violations and my PO feels the same way. It's been over 6 months since having this thing installed and smart start customer service has been informative and courteous as if they know their devices are consistently inaccurate and doing more harm than good. I was recently transferred to a new PO, who I have yet to meet, and I'm worried that they're going to believe the inconsistent reports over me. It's so obvious that these devices are unreliable. I pass, then fail, then pass again within 5 minutes. I need my car to commute to work. I've attended and completed all of my classes, twice a week DUI programs, MADD session and paid all of my fines and probation costs. I just want this thing out of my car.

Recently, I tried to start my car and my smart start recorded a VIOLATION! I haven't had a drop to drink in months so it freaked me out that the car didn't start like it had been (I got the smart start in March). I took some deep breaths, drank a ton of water to make sure I washed anything out, and took the test again. Of course this time I passed and then passed another rolling re-test a few minutes later before I got home so I felt somewhat validated.
I'm ASSUMING the technician at smart start will see this on the report and somehow mark it as OK? I talked to my PO and she said not to worry, that if it had been alcohol that I had drunk, the level would have risen after drinking the water, not fall back to 0. But I'm still anxious about it. I have been doing EVERYTHING right during probation and now I've got this false test result on my report. Plus, sometimes the smart start lets me crank the car without asking for a test. It immediately asks after the car cranks, but that still seems like something is faulty there. Should I be calling smart start when this stuff happens?!

Does anyone know what happens now? Who gets these reports? What impact is it going to have on my probation? I'm only supposed to have this thing on my car for 4 more months, are they going to extend it? or worse?

My next meeting with my PO is on 5/20, so I'll be asking her all of this then, but I need to know if anyone has gone through this before and what typically happens?!
I just want this to be over with and done so I can move on with my life!

When this occurs the best thing you can do is get to a police station asap and ask for a PBT (preliminary blood alcohol test). They can range from 5 to 25 dollars. Take a copy of the report you are given (assuming it registers 0.00%) and make a copy for you PO as well as for the Secretary of State (or Department of Motor Vehicles).

but what will happen now? i didn't go to the police station.

Hey folks, just wanted to update you on my progress. I have uploaded my incident with Smart Start on the internet, there are 2 videos and an explanation of the situation. The second video is the one you want to watch, where the lady is cussing at me. www.geminidynamic.com/smartstart or you can find the link at geminidynamic.com. I don't think my contacts page is working, so either reply to this or shoot me an email at smartstart@geminidynamic.com.

I would like to get enough people together to begin a class act lawsuit against smart start or some type of law suit.
I am actually off the device now because court decided I did not need it and should have never had it. But in the time I was with smart start I went through so much and so much happened to me because of them. I lost so much money and time because of them and they would hang up on me if they didn't have an answer or did not want to help. I want to get a lawsuit going against them and I am not doing it to get off the company because as soon as I fix this problems I will get off or I will snatch the device off myself and I am not doing it for financial gain but to show them that they do cause a lot of harm and they need to learn how to run a good corporation.
So if you want to join please contact me. email to contact me for that is downforwhatever559@yahoo.com. I am not going to put my real one on here of course. Please email me with your name and the problems you have had. We need to have enough complaints regarding the same issues and same number of clients as complaints for this to go through

thank you

I am at a complete loss with my Smart Start Unit. I have had it on my car since 12/4/09. In January I had 3 occassions where the unit said I violated. Each time I was able to get to the Smart Start office and take a breath test on their office unit, so i wasn't charged for the reset. They ended up giving me a new unit and I have had no problems until last Thursday. I left work and tried to start the car, but it said I violated. Since I'm not drinking, I went directly to a rehab center that I've been going to since January and they did a breath test and a urine Etg. Both were negative for drinking. Smart Start replaced the unit again, but the same thing happened on Monday night. I went back to the rehab center and had another breath test and urine Etg. Then it happened again Tuesday morning. That time it gave me a Warn and i was able to start the car it drove it straight to Smart Start and they gave me a breath test within minutes. Smart Start reset the unit, but said they have no idea what is wrong. They say it must be me (i.e. mouthwash, gum, perfume....) However, I know it is none of those things. Now, it just happened again this Thursday when I left work. I couldn't find a ride home or to work this morning so I had to pay $50 for a cab each way. I have no idea if the car will start again so I can get it back to Smart Start. I may have to hire a tow truck. I call Virginia's ASAP (the people who monitor people after a DUI) and asked them if I can switch to a different company. They said there are hoops I have to jump through and special permission I have to get from VASAP (don't know who they are.) I'm sitting here with a devise that doesn't work, a complany that can't fix it, a car I can't drive, and they say I have to keep it on my car. What sense does that make. If I can't drive the car, I wouldn't need a restricted license, and if I don't need a restricted license, I don't need ASAP. I am stuck in a catch 22. If there are any Smart Start dealers out there with some insight as to how to fix this thing, please help.

If a class action is what you want, I am NOT an Attorney, but a really good place to start suing IMO is MADD and NHTSA they are the ones that used the "honey stats" to get the laws on the books in the first place. NTHSA admitted in March 2010 on their website that there were "errors" in the Stats since 1999, I know for a fact that it went back further than that, I have the stats since 1995 that they have since "CHANGED", check out MADD website, NO stats on Main page and they are hidden way in back in a pdf. They know that they screwed up.
They lobbied to get the DUI laws passed on lies, they knew that they were lies because they were told by me and others for over the past ten years!
They conspired with Auto insurance co to get higher premiums based upon those false stats.
They stole Highway funds from states based upon those false stats.
They have had over 1.4 Million people arrested yearly based upon those false stats..because they "might" hurt themselves or someone else.
Need I go further???
NHTSA isn't even Braying about DUI stats anymore, the stats are way down at the bottom in the corner...
ftp://ftp.nhtsa.dot.gov/FARS/2009/DRUNK_DR%20CORRECTION/
Excerpt:
We have discovered a problem with a derived variable on the Accident / Crash file.
The DRUNK_DR element on the ACCIDENT level has been incorrectly derived since 1999.  Since then, it was derived based on all person types rather than based on Drivers only. Furthermore, the variable name (DRUNK_DR) implies that the individual was drunk, however, it actually captures those individuals whom the police reported alcohol involvement OR who tested positive for alcohol (i.e. their blood alcohol concentration was .01 g/dL or greater). Please note that beginning with the 2008 Final file, which will be released in the summer of 2010, DRUNK_DR will be derived for Drivers only.
Tell them Judy sent you LOL

Smart Start is horribe, try asking someone at thier office what thier extension rate ir or suspension rate. All IID companies meet about once a year and 7 out 10 companies have above 40% extension rate. When considering a company ask the right questions as far as extension rates and what not. You might want to sacrafice paying a couple extra dollars to a a company with half of 1% extensions vs. a company with %40. For those that dont know what an extension is, its when the DMV sends you a letter stating because you've had so many fails you must do an additional 12 months.
also FYI

3 MISSED RETESTS BACK TO BACK WILL CAUSE AN EXTENSION
3 FAILS OVER .08 IN 12 MONTHS WILL CAUSE AN EXTENSION
TAMPERING WITH DEVICE, AND FAILING TO RETEST BEFORE SHUTTING ENGINE OFF ARE JUST SOME OF THE WAYS YOU MIGHT WANT TO AVOID AN EXTENSION.

I have had the idd for 14 months now. i have had fails and had to have my interlock device recaburltored i have also had a violation for using mouthwash. It is like in a court of law. I am not guilty for this violation but according to the dmv i must now go to treatment another way for the state to take my money. My dui was 6 and a half years ago. The dmv doesn't know one thing from another each person you speak to tells you a different story and they do not record information correctly. the idd does not bother me its the money game they are playing. Anyone who is in the car can blow in the machine it does not have to be the driver, so how is this device suppose to monitor dui cases in the correct manor? According to idd the only violations you have are when you go into early recall!!!!

Hello I have to get an IID installed and am considering Draeger. I cannot find much about their company or the quality of their devices (unlike smart start or guardian which consumer reports both as horrible). Can anyone tell me if their experience with Draeger has been positive or negative? Thank you.

Lorraine Hurley
P.O. Box 1703
Brewster, MA 02631


July 28, 2010

To Whom it may concern:

I am under contract with Smart Start interlock system and licensed in Massachusetts. I have been attempting to speak with a supervisor or manager of the company in my area regarding what are now two incidences with the device that led to a lock out. Other incidences not involving lock-outs have occurred and were reported to the service station that installed my device.

Of particular concern at present are lock outs that occurred on July 3rd, 2010 and July 24th, 2010. The first incident involved blowing on a routine rolling retest and having the device register a violation. The device proceeded to signal a blow a minute or so later and register warn, it signaled a third time a minute or so later and register pass. I was in the car with two other people that witnessed this event and the ensuing consequences.

At the time I had been in the car for nearly an hour and had not consumed any drink, food, gum, coffee etc. and certainly no alcohol. I understood the reaction of the device to be registering an alcohol level. I became very agitated and apprehensive and upon returning home called the 800 number. I explained what happened and told them that the device was registering a false positive, that no food or drink of any kind was ingested by me prior to the device registering a positive and that I was with, and had been with, all day, two people that could verify this. I was told there was nothing they could do, that I would have to have the device downloaded and “evaluated”. I explained that I was in Vermont and that it was the 4th of July holiday. I asked where I could go on Monday. I needed the location of a service station that could re-set the device on a holiday Monday. I was told 1) the closest station was in Pittsfield (2 1/2 hours away) and 2) Smart start could not tell me who was and wasn’t open, I needed to call the service center.

I called the service center in Pittsfield and the answering machine stated that normal business hours were Mon-Friday. There was no message stating the service center was closed on Monday the 5th. On Monday I went to the station in Pittsfield with my family and it was closed. I once again called smart start and asked them to direct me to a center that was open as I now had only a few hours before lock out. I was told that they could not tell me who was open but was given the phone number of a “supervisor for emergencies” that would have that information. His name is Dan and the number has a 781 area code. I called Dan who did not pick up and left a message. We waited 1/2 hour for a return call that never came. We returned to VT where the device, by the way, stuck on 4 hours to lock out.

The next morning I called the 800 number and once again waited about 30 minutes for a human to pick up. Calls to smart start typically involve 20-40 minute hold times. I was given a code and ONCE AGAIN sent to Pittsfield.

When I arrived in Pittsfield the owner informed me that he did not have an operational service machine for the device. He said it had been broken for over a week, that smart start knew this and that they also knew he was closed on Monday as they sent him a letter telling him he was on their “closed list” for the holiday. When I related what was happening, he pointed to a shelf full of devices that he said were yanked because they had failed. He said he had had so many device failures recently that he did not even have a new device he could install. He (the service station owner) then sent me to North hampton which as it turns out is only one hour from where I am staying in VT. So now I have spent two days and over 8 hours in the car (with a 12 year old I could not leave alone for hours and hours), have endured excessive anxiety and apprehension only to be sent to a station an hour away. I am further advised that smart start KNEW he was closed and KNEW he did not have service equipment available. The owner also expressed his own frustration and discontent at dealing with smart start and assured me I was not alone in being victimized by the companies carelessness, malfunctioning devices, abuse and misrepresentations of “service”.

I arrived in Northhampton and again explained what happened. This time the owner said that if alcohol was registered there had to have been SOMETHING I ate or drank. I reiterated that there was nothing and that two other people were with me during this incident and could attest to that. When he put the device on the computer he looked a little surprised and said “you violated for a missed rolling re-test”. I assured him I did not miss a test and explained once again what happened and once again asserted that there were two people who witnessed the entire fiasco. The device went off, I blew, a violation registered and two subsequent signals to blow occurred within a couple of minutes and registered first warn and then pass.

At this point I requested a phone number to speak with a smart start representative and a new device. I was told he could provide me with neither, that I had to contact “them”. I told him that the device had failed in other ways over the past few months. The car has started without blowing both with and with out the device attached. I told him that I had reported the first two incidences to the service station in Orleans MA where I routinely received service until moving to VT for the summer. I did not want trouble and I had no idea why the device or car was randomly starting without a blow. I further explained that the service station in Orleans tried to reach smart start following the second time I reported such an incident. I was having the once a month download and once again let them know that the device was behaving improperly. This time the service tech called smart start and hung up when his call was not answered in 10 minutes. I explained to him at that time that I had concerns that I had a faulty device. He said there was nothing he could do about it.

After relating the sum of my adverse experience with the smart start interlock device this service station owner echoed the gentleman in Pittsfield. He assured me I was not the first person this had happened to, that device failures/mistakes were very common, that smart start was extremely difficult to deal with and that it amounted to legalized extortion.

The lock out was rectified and I came home and once again tried to reach smart start. I no longer had the number of ‘Dan’ the supervisor I was told to contact, so I called Texas. I put Dan’s name into their directory and got an extension--x 240. When I put the extension in I was once again sent to the recording that says “dial the first two or more letters of the persons first name”. Round and round and round it goes! You never get a voicemail box, person or option.

I began a prior version of this letter to send to smart start, the RMV in MA, the Attorney General in MA and the Better Business Bureau. Then it happened again. I was grocery shopping and started my car by blowing without incident. I was alone this time. Less than three miles away the device goes off as is the norm. There is the blow to start and then a subsequent blow 1 to about 10 minutes later. I do not have the exact times but when the second blow signal went off I picked up the device, blew and guess what? You got it! A violation. A minute later it went off again, I blew and now a pass. But now I’m locked out and once again it is Saturday.

I did not call smart start as it is becoming obvious that it is a waste of my time and intelligence to do so. You spend 20-40 minutes on hold only to have a representative state the obvious. They are unable or not permitted to put you through to a higher up. I will say this for the company, the people that answer the phone are absolutely professional and composed in their response. However, they are utterly useless under these circumstances.

On Monday the 26th I once again went to Northhampton, I once again explained what happened and once again the computer said that I missed a rolling re-test. I did not. I asked the service tech to tell me what time the violation occurred as it takes 6 minutes to violate and I was fairly certain that this blow was less than 6 minutes out from the blow to start my car at the grocery store. Not only that there was a third blow (registered pass one minute after violating) and I was pretty sure that happened less than 6 minutes out from the time I started my car. Correct me if I am wrong, it DOES take 6 minutes to miss a rolling retest does it not?. Of course there was no missed blow, there was a false + that the software put under missed rolling retest because there was no alcohol. Imagine this though! He can’t tell me what time this happened! He said he doesn’t have access to times but that they are recorded “somewhere” and “someone” has access to them. I once again requested a replacement and once again was told I had to deal with the company.

I once again attempted to reach ‘Dan’ through the number on your website for the Texas corporate office and AGAIN, I was sent in circles that never put me through to a person or voicemail box.

There are asides and smaller pieces I will not go into. I am requesting phone contact with a human being in some position of authority that will explain what is happening, provide me with times (I have witnesses to the first incident) so that I have further defense of my position with the RMV, authorize a replacement to this device and credit or reimburse me for two lockouts that were the result of device error and not a failure on my part to observe the rules of operation.

I expect to be contacted in a timely and professional manner after receipt of this letter. I expect, at the very least. credit for money spent to release the lockouts and a new device installation at no cost. I am further putting you on notice that failure of the company to work with me towards these ends will compel me to seek legal avenues against you. I may be required by the RMV to contract with you to maintain my license but this does not make you exempt from operating with fairness and integrity in business. One of two things is happening: the device is malfunctioning or the device is actually functioning as well as can be expected and you are misleading people about the limitations of it’s accuracy and reliability.

At present, I am experiencing extreme anxiety whenever I am in the car alone and the device goes off. I don’t know what will happen. Further, I have no way of knowing what the registry will do under these circumstances. When I first had the device installed I did not have full my full license or my own car. The device was first installed in my husbands car and then mine after I purchased my own vehicle. It was about a month before I had my license and my husband frequently used the device. He is hard of hearing and managed to miss rolling retests. When he called smart start he was told the incident would be documented.

I understand I am responsible for any and all use of the device but my point is this; I have put almost 10, 000 miles on my car since January and have never personally missed a blow. I am not hard of hearing and I don’t drink and attempt to drive. I am doing exactly what is expected of me under contract and smart start is failing not only in their contractual agreement to provide a reliable method of monitoring compliance but they are making it impossible for people to defend themselves against device failure and malfunction without expending extreme effort and expense.

Copies of this letter will be forwarded to the RMV in MA, the Attorney General in MA, the Better Business Bureau and any other entity or person that I subsequently determine may be helpful to me in rectifying this matter or interested in what is taking place.

Sincerely,

Lorraine Hurley

drlorrainehurley@gmail.com
802-365-0272

If people profit off the misery of others. They go straight to HELL.

I assume you are speaking about Interlock Companies, but I would think Hell is reserved for those who deserve it, like people who drive drunk and kill teenage girls who have not yet had a chance to experience life long enough to bitch about what you guys complain about on a daily fucking basis. But ya, it's the guys with the Interlocks that are going to hell. Not the murdering, drunk assclowns who cannot seem to fathom why getting behind the wheel of a thousand plus pound machine MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST IDEA AFTER DRINKING!

You people are fucking tools in the first place, so bitching about being used for money is kinda funny and ironic at the same time.

Be informed, that if you get a dui and need to go to one of the places listed in alphabetical order as state certified that they all have crazy wild variations in the way they do things! Some of them do the initial screen in 15 minutes, some in as long as hour and half! Most do the weekend educaation in two 8 hour sessions, some so it in two SEVEN hour sessions! And the counseling part? For that 20 hours, one place does it in 5, 3 hour days, (and gives you credit for the other 5 hours!)once a week for 5 weeks? And the worst i found stretches that 20 hours out over FOURTEEN MONTHS, WITH random testing the whole time!! Don't just look at the price or location, people- call theem and ask them how they operate!! FYI- you can NOT get your DL back aafter the 90 day suapension, without having ccompleted the sessions,so if you choose to stretch your counseling sessionss out over 14 months you are ALSO unknowingly prolonging getting your DL back by the same aamount of time!!!

I live in Nevada and scheduled to get my license back March 3rd and as a requirement must have an IID installed for one year. I'm going to move to Montana in June or July and am thinking of not reinstating my license until I get up there. My question is, what can I expect at Montana dmv? Will I be required to install one up there?

In the state of VA, my husband was an habitual offender (DUI 3 times), got a 4th 1 got restricted license for 1 yr, draegar intterlock, fines, ASAP & jail. He failed the interlock breathalyzer, asap sent a letter to say they would be sending a letter for court because he was not complying to take away license. Court never got it & we never went, he paid ASAP, nevre completed (they wouldn't) let him. He still hasa device on his truck after 6.5 yrs. He still gets it calibrated monthly & needs to know waht he can do, does he have to contact ASAP to finish classes or appeal to the court for license or what? He's afraid that if he contacts ASAP that they will say you weren't suppose to be driving, you fell thru the cracks & make him start over. He hasn't drink in 6.25 yrs now.

I had my device installed on 6/10 and had a few abort problems and a missed violation from then until 9/10. My PO didn't care as long as it didn't show any alcohol. In 10/10 the device gave me FALSE violations 3 times in one week. I would pass, start the car, fail the rolling test, then past the rolling retest. I called smart start and they said to have the device swapped when I went in for calibration again. MY PO began to think that I was drinking even though I had been pleading with her the previous months to try something else. On 11/10 they gave me another device and it randomly gave me warnings but no violations. In 12/10 I got hit with one false violation. Now in 1/11 I've gotten 5 false violations in one week. I go in for calibration tomorrow and will have to ask them for another device. I've not had a drink since my DUI in 3/10. All the guys at the calibration shop think I'm the cause of the violations and my PO feels the same way. It's been over 6 months since having this thing installed and smart start customer service has been informative and courteous as if they know their devices are consistently inaccurate and doing more harm than good. I was recently transferred to a new PO, who I have yet to meet, and I'm worried that they're going to believe the inconsistent reports over me. It's so obvious that these devices are unreliable. I pass, then fail, then pass again within 5 minutes. I need my car to commute to work. I've attended and completed all of my classes, twice a week DUI programs, MADD session and paid all of my fines and probation costs. I just want this thing out of my car.

as fa these interlock devices you to is less then you deserve.am i wrong in asumeing that you have multiple dui convictions,or you wouldnt hhave one of these in your cars? whiny jerks.all potential killers whove had youweapons taken away from you.good for the judges

i guess an interlock device is better than jail? and ,yeah ,my last post was a little misspelled.so what?

Not a little misspelled, like a monkey that has been drinking whiskey all day and his monkey wife found out he had been cheating so she hit him over the head with a baseball bat and he fell on the keyboard of a computer and hence.....you post. Still, I agree with you. Yet it is under the assumption (for the most part) that if you disagree with someone on this complaint site, that you are working for an breathalyzer vendor, which I do not.

I have not read all of these posts but I doubt anyone is in the same situation as me. I have had the interlock since December of 2010 and I have had tons of problems. I work every morning and night at a few different restaurants. Anyway I've had fails in the morning from drinking the night before which i realize is my own dumb ass fault. I've had people blow into it multiple times and then just failed the retest as I am driving. My most recent time I had a very early appt. and my Mom started it for me it went off as I was driving and I failed. Long story short(kind of) after my appt. I still failed and my car went into lockdown, went to the interlock got my reading and the first reading showed a .12 during the rolling retest so they know someone was driving over the legal limit. I have talked to my laywer and she has yet to find out if it's possible to get a DUI from the interlock. I am moving in one week across the country and I am not taking my car. Does anyone have any similar situation or any advice??? I am freaaaaking out!! I think I might just keep the interlock on my car nad pay every month instead of requesting it off so the judge won't see my failed readings. I am just very nervous when I tell the probation office that I'm moving that they will look at all my reports, I would love love any feedback from anyone, and yes I realize I am a dumbass so no mean comments please!!

"I have talked to my laywer and she has yet to find out if it's possible to get a DUI from the interlock."
" I am just very nervous when I tell the probation office that I'm moving that they will look at all my reports, I would love love any feedback from anyone, and yes I realize I am a dumbass so no mean comments please!!"

You see Sally, you pose a double sided question, because you say really stupid things, but you don't want people to be mean. But if I bring up these things you said, it will sound mean, because you are stupid. So the answer is simple: Move to a place with lots of space so no one has to see you. You said that you were moving anyway. Why not go to Alaska!? That place is run by morons! Maybe you can run for a government position!!

Three times the car has left me stranded w/battery problems. Called IID Installer & Sacramento (DMV). IID installer says that there is no relationship with the device & battery. He said, however, that I cannot give the car a jump because it can damage the device that cost $2,000 and I would have to pay for it. If what the installer said is true, then there is a relationship betweent the devide & batter. Sacramento had nothing to say. They said to call the installer. I am writing a formal letter of complain to the DMV Has anyone had similar problems with the IID?

Smart Start is the most pathetic, corrupt company I had ever had to deal with I agree with all the bashing on here more need to be done and all you ass kissers out there fuck off!! The company is WORTHLESS!! I advised anyone needed an ignition interlock device NOT TO USE SMART START!!!!! especiall the one in GEORGIA and good luck trying to get intouch with the corporate office hahaha a FUCKING JOKE!! I have had nothing but problems since November 2010....battery, starter, airbags driver and passenger side, my locks don't work, my radio doesn't work....yes I have seen it all. Today I get a bill for $1250 for there shity piece of equipment burning up lol WHY? because the employee they hiried at the SMART START location in LAWRENCEVILLE GEORGIA is NOT LICENSED, but was still at the shop alone working on my car, then I get a bill. FUCKING INSANE. WARNING TO ALL DO NOT USE SMART START INC. FAULTY equipment and WORTHLESS EMPLOYEES who are not LICENSED and better yet NO CUSTOMER SERVICE....ITS ALWAYS YOUR FAULT REMEMBER WE ARE THE DRUNKS!!!!!

Smart Start's newer interlock is a really bad design. The software is poorly written, not well tested, and constantly being updated. The hardware is far too sensitive to normal fluctuations in input voltage in a vehicle and the unit can't handle the temperature extremes that are required in automotive applications. The installers are poorly trained and have no real knowledge of how the electronics work. Yes, it will drain your battery if you let it sit too long. If your charging system works well and you don't let your vehicle sit too long, it will be fine.

I got mine removed recently, thank God. But, when they removed it they didn't even manage to put things back together correctly. I found two screws and a vent cover on the floor mat. It took me an hour to fix what they had screwed up. When they installed the camera, they put it several inches from the edge of the windshield and in my line of sight. When I asked if they could move it, they said they couldn't. I did - and they never even noticed.

I'm not sure if the other interlock companies are any better, but it wouldn't be difficult to be better than these clowns.

I've had some serious issues with my "Smart Start" interlock device lately. Subsequently, I began searching for similar problems and solutions and came across this forum. First of all, I'd like to comment on the earlier banter between technicians and customers. NONE OF YOU CAN SPELL! Why even make comments like those? I honestly thought it was just funny. People were using incorrect spelling to complain about others' spelling. Regardless, the interlock device in my truck has seriously malfunctioned numerous times. Fortunatley, I'm not an idiot and started video recording each of my starts. In one day alone my device gave me 4 start violations just by plugging it in (without the keys in the ignition). Yes, I got it on video. I took it in to the service center and they tested my battery (despite the new alternator, battery, and cables in plain view), ran a diagnostic, gave me a new handset, and turned off the voltage testing in the device. Seriously? No actual answers to the cause of the malfunction? They didn't even check the wiring under the dash. Furthermore, I had a brand new engine installed in my truck less than a year prior to the installation of interlock. I put 40K on the new engine with absolutely zero problems. Within a couple weeks of the interlock installation, almost every emissions sensor under the hood started failing one after another, and my alternator shorted out and fried. All this and the "smart start" technician said that it might be my stereo amplifier. What? I think that answers one of the primary problems with interlock systems, and I'm in total agreement with 'Electrical Engineer'. Let's look at this with some simple logic. Is it ok to certify someone to change oil with simple training? Sure! Is it ok to certify someone to modify the electrical system of a vehicle with simple training? HELL NO! I'm of the opinion that ignition interlock devices should only be installed and maintained by SAE certified technicians. For you interlock employees, that means a couple/few years of tech school. Needless to say, I have video of the malfunctions, and also think I know what they did wrong installing the device. Without getting into too much detail, I looked under the dash and WOW! No wonder it doesn't take long to install. It looks like a 4th grader with a 'my first electrical tool kit' went ape-shit under my dash. I am taking my truck into a mechanic that is awesome with electrical, and having the installation evaluated top to bottom. If the device was incorrectly installed, I will contact my attorney and go from there. Now, to address false positives and fails. We live in a world surrounded by products containing ethyl alcohol, including gasoline. Yes, the ethanol (8-10% on average) in gasoline is chemically the same as in beer, whiskey, etc. So when the pump doesn't auto stop early enough and you get some on your hands...Fail. Plus, it's suspended in petroleum so it won't evaporate very fast. In fact, most people are exposed to/come in contact with alcohol everyday and don't even know it. The device simply detects alcohol. My advice to all that have interlock...video everything you do when using interlock and spend the bucks on a really good personal breathalyzer (mine was $400) for side by side comparison. I am taking the documentation process one step further and calling the police for a breathalyzer test next false positive I get. That will put disputed results between the police and "smart start". The purpose of interlock is to prevent drinking and driving, and I have absolutely NO problem with that. I do have a problem with the business of extorting gross amounts of money from people through a self-monitored system based on poorly designed software and installed by non certified mechanics that have no business anywhere near a vehicles electrical system.

Lawsuit as to unfair and dangerous driving hazards. It is mandated that i blow in this device while driving yet it is illegal to talk and text while driving and I dont forsee any difference. i have been false tested and even though I submitted an alcohol test and the result was negitive, I was penalized for their negligence. I am demanding justice to this injustice. The legal fees accumilated have been in excess of 5,000 while I have been wrongly accused of drinking, yet i have proven legally that I have been abstinent for the past 8 months. i am seriously seeking legal assistance to fight this injustice!

Lawsuit as to unfair and dangerous driving hazards. It is mandated that i blow in this device while driving yet it is illegal to talk and text while driving and I dont forsee any difference. i have been false tested and even though I submitted an alcohol test and the result was negitive, I was penalized for their negligence. I am demanding justice to this injustice. The legal fees accumilated have been in excess of 5,000 while I have been wrongly accused of drinking, yet i have proven legally that I have been abstinent for the past 8 months. i am seriously seeking legal assistance to fight this injustice!