American Interlock

Intoxalock Technologies

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:05:45 +0000

The Intoxalock® is a state-of-the-art breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) designed to minimize the opportunity of a driver operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
The Intoxalock® is generally mandated by state statute for all multiple DUI/DWI offenders to temporarily obtain their driving privileges. Hovwever, many people also recognizing the benefit to installing an ignition interlock in their vehicle, or those of loved ones, to prevent DUI/DWI or worse.

The device works by requiring a breath sample prior to starting a vehicle and periodically as the vehicle is being started. If the breath sample provided contain an alcohol level below the acceptable threshold, the vehicle will be allowed to operate. Under no cirmcumstances will the device shut the vehicle off when it is being driven.

The Intoxalock® utilizes state-of-the-art fuel cell technology allowing for the highest level of accuracy and percision. It has been certified by an independent laboratory to meet or exceed all National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards.

Updated Statistics

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:36:50 +0000

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities (National Statistics)

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 37,261 people died in traffic crashes in 2008 in the United States (latest figures available), including an estimated 11,773 people who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Drunk driving fatalities accounted for 32% of all traffic deaths last year, that is, on average someone is killed in an alcohol-impaired driving crash every 45 minutes in the U.S. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2009)

Since NHTSA began recording alcohol-related statistics in 1982, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities have decreased 44% from 21,113 in 1982. Since the inception of The Century Council and our national efforts to fight drunk driving, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities have declined 26% from 15,827 in 1991. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2009)

The rate of alcohol-impaired fatalities per 100,000 population is the number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 persons in the population being measured. In 2008, about four people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 Americans. Since 1998, the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the U.S. has decreased 17%. Between 1991 and 2008, the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 population decreased 38% nationally. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2009)

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities (Youth Under 21)

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began recording alcohol-related statistics in 1982, among persons under 21, the number killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes decreased 71% from the record high of 5,215 in 1982 to a record low 1,510 in 2008. (View the Under 21 Alcohol-Impaired Driving Fatalities chart) These fatalities account for 13% of the alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the U.S. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2009)

Among those under 21, about two young people are killed in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 American under the age of 21. The rate of under 21 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities per 100,000 population has declined 33% over the past decade. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2009)

Despite declines in the number of young people involved in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, 4 people under the age of 21 die each day in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. (Source: NHTSA/FARS, 2009)

Protecting lives by deterring drunk drivers

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:11:10 +0000

Our proven interlock programs reduce death, bodily injury and property damage caused by drunk drivers. Our devices have prevented millions of vehicle starts when alcohol was detected in the driver’s system. Interlock use also greatly reduces repeat arrests of DWI/DUI offenders. Monitoring is frequently a preferable alternative to jail time, reducing costs to taxpayers.

Legislation Change

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 01:49:11 +0000

The Michigan Legislature recently passed a “Super Drunk” bill. It will lead to more confiscatory measures for citizens who are arrested and provide an allegedly high breath/blood alcohol sample. You have time to start preparing for “Super Drunk” charges.

The statute will not start spooking the citizenry until Halloween, 2010. Here is a summary of the statute:

Super Drunk Driving PA 461 and PA 462 of 2008; MCL 257.625k et seq.

These acts add a criminal penalty for operating a vehicle with a BAC of 0.17 or more. In essence, it increases the penalties from a 93-day misdemeanor to a 180-day misdemeanor. It also mandates participation and successful completion of a treatment program for at least one year.

If the person has no prior convictions, the Secretary of State shall suspend the person’s license for one year. After 45 days, the Secretary of State may issue the person a restricted license. The restricted license also requires that an ignition interlock device be placed in the offender’s vehicle.

Additionally, if a hearing officer issues a restricted license requiring an ignition interlock device based upon multiple drunk driving convictions, the ignition interlock device must not be for less than one year. The interlock device cannot be removed without the Secretary of State issuing an order for its removal.

This law takes effect on October 31, 2010.

The trick is not without a treat in 2010. The legislature eliminated the crime of negligent homicide. A charge that was ambiguous and was, oddly enough, difficult to prosecute and defend, was eliminated with the crime of “Death or Injury During Moving Violations. Here is a summary:

Death or Injury During Moving Violations PA 463, PA 468, PA 442, PA 446 and PA 465 of 2008

Establishes penalties for moving violations that seriously injure or kill another person as follows:

A moving violation that causes serious impairment of a body function of another person is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days imprisonment, a fine of $500 or both.
A moving violation that causes the death of another person is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to one year or a maximum fine of up to $2,000 or both.
Reckless driving that causes serious impairment of a body function of another person is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of between $1,000 and $5,000 or both, and vehicle immobilization.
Reckless driving that causes the death of another person is a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to 15 years or a fine of $2,500 to $10,000, or both and vehicle immobilization.

The law requires the Secretary of State to assign six points to a person’s driving record for any of the above offenses, and four points for a moving violation resulting in an at-fault collision as well as revoke a drivers license for a conviction of a reckless driving causing either serious injury or death. A moving violation that results in serious injury or death will result in a one year license suspension. A person convicted of any of the above offenses is required to pay $1,000 driver responsibility fees each year for two consecutive years.
The law eliminates the offenses of felonious driving and negligent homicide.
The law takes effect on October 31, 2010.