For drivers required to install interlocks for a set period of time, the real issue for them is the amount of friction that will exist for the next 6 to 36 months. While states have implemented approval processes for interlock service providers, the services provided by these approved providers can vary drastically. While the approved devices are largely determined by state approval processes for approved interlock models, the services provided around these approved devices can cause compliance failures, unwanted violations and extend your monitoring period.
If you are a professional who is advising clients going through the required interlock period, you want to consider several criteria when comparing the services of approved interlock providers. The following explains the major differences in service between companies that will keep your clients road legal and those who may create problems, monitor too long, or generate undue interlock violations.
Verify certification against the right authority
All States have an approved list of Interlock Devices, approved on a specific model number basis. Just because a provider is approved in one State does not mean they are approved in another neighboring State. Check the current approved Interlock Devices for a specific State against the approved model numbers of a provider’s Interlock Devices.
Sticking to the approved models as outlined by the federal model for interlock devices published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for alcohol-detection sensors and for anti-circumvention features and for calibration stability is key. It is also very important to realize that each and every false positive caused by mouthwash, by fermented food, by off-gassing from the interior of a car can cost a driver a lot of time and be damaging to his/her credibility with the monitoring authority.
Questions worth asking before signing
- Which exact device model is being installed, and does it appear on the current state approved list?
- Is the provider bonded and insured as the state requires for monitoring agencies?
- Who holds responsibility for transmitting data to the monitoring authority, and how often?
- What happens to the account if the driver relocates mid-program?
Weigh service network density over total location count
Most providers require calibration of the lock to occur every 30-60 days or so. The problem is that if the lock is not recalibrated within this time frame, it will go into lockout, sometimes reporting an “interfering substance” violation (i.e. One that is not caused by alcohol in the driver’s system). Imagine being 70 miles from the service center that installed your lock and having to choose between an appointment and a day’s work.
While many interlock service providers have offices throughout a state, the physical location of the service center is not as important as the service hours of the center. In general, evening and Saturday hours will be more important to people with standard work hours than a large geographic network of centers, which is why drivers in Southern California are often better served by a shop such as Low Cost Interlock San Diego that keeps appointment windows outside the normal workday. Further, some centers are now able to perform a handheld recalibration by mail and update the interlock’s firmware via a remote connection.
Installation turnaround
A provider that can install interlock service within 48 hours of a call is significantly more valuable than one that says it can do it in two weeks. Much time is lost by a driver who cannot go to work during the time of install.
Insist on a full cost breakdown before installation
Many programs list monthly rates that do not include ‘additional charges’ that will make up a large portion of the actual cost of the interlock program. Request a written breakdown of estimated costs for all monitoring required throughout the entire term and compare providers on the total.
| Cost component | Typical structure | What to confirm |
| Installation | One-time fee | Whether vehicle type or ignition system affects the price |
| Monthly lease | Recurring | Whether calibration and data reporting are included |
| Calibration visit | Per visit or bundled | Charge for missed or rescheduled appointments |
| Lockout reset | Per incident | Whether remote reset codes are available |
| Removal | One-time fee | Timing relative to final compliance report |
| Indigent discount | State-dependent | Documentation needed and whether the provider participates |
Many states require approved Interlock Providers to offer reduced rates for qualified customers through ‘affordability programs’. However, not all approved Interlock Providers are willing to participate in these programs and may require customers to initiate the application process.
Assess how the provider handles reporting and violations
Compliance support is the least obvious way in which different providers can deliver differing service to the driver, and this could cause great problems for the driver. Often it is reported to the driver’s reference in the form of an event log entry.
Find out how long it will take for the driver to get a written statement explaining a specific entry in the event log. There is no guarantee that courts and licensing authorities will act as quickly as you need them to, so make sure your chosen provider can supply the necessary documentation in time to have it considered at a scheduled hearing.
Red flags in the contract
- Automatic renewal clauses extending past the court-ordered term
- Early removal penalties that apply even when the program ends on schedule
- No written commitment on how long violation documentation takes to produce
- Vague language on who pays for device damage or vehicle electrical issues
Test customer service before you need it
Problems occur at the worst time and you need someone to answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you with getting back on the road as soon as possible. Even more important is being able to assist you before a problem occurs to prevent you from getting towed and losing a shift of work.
Even a single call to a 24-hour support line will reveal the quality of the service the driver will receive for the entire period of the following year. Best to time this call, to test the knowledge of a support representative about the specifics of the device model in question, and to note the completeness and accuracy of the answer provided.