Legislative Program – Monitored Driving
In several countries like the USA, Australia, Sweden and Finland “Drink Driving Offender Programs” are introduced in order to improve road safety. Once a driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, depending on legislative requirements, the offender may be required to install an alcohol interlock device into his or her vehicle. Furthermore several countries have now mandated that alcohol interlocks must be installed into public transport vehicles, for example school buses.
All of the countries have one thing in common: they protect all road users from the dangers of drink driving. However, all programs have different laws as a basis: Different countries have different legal alcohol limits ranging from 0.02% - 0.08% BAC.
At the beginning of your alcohol interlock program, the Dräger Interlock XT will be installed into your vehicle and can easily be removed after completion.
During the program period, Dräger provides you with an extensive service network in order to make your program as convenient and successful as possible. The service network consists of several interlock workshops where you can get your alcohol interlock installed, removed or data downloaded.
All relevant events are recorded in the internal data storage for later review. These events include data such as dates, times, submission of or refusal to submit a breath sample, measured alcohol concentration, engine starts and stops, electrical bypassing of the interlock and any other attempts to tamper with the device. This data can be provided to the driver vehicle licensing authority or other supervisory bodies to confirm compliance.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that an alcohol interlock gives a drink driving offender the chance to drive instead of having a disqualification period or being in jail. Especially people that depend on their license for continuing with their profession can benefit from an alcohol interlock.
Victoria
Victoria has implemented alcohol interlock legislation which requires that an alcohol interlock is fitted to a car whose driver has been convicted of serious drink driving offences.
South Australia
South Australia has two types of legislative programs – a voluntary scheme commenced in 2001 and a mandatory scheme. Whereas the mandatory scheme has been introduced on 1 May 2009, the voluntary scheme will be phased out till 2014.
Being a participant of the voluntary program, you have the possibility to apply to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for an "Alcohol Interlock" licence at any time after the half way point of your disqualification.
In the mandatory scheme you will be enforced to get an alcohol interlock installed for the same period of time you have been disqualified. For example, if you have been given a disqualification period of 2 years, you have to get an alcohol interlock fitted into your vehicle for an additional period of 2 years.
New South Wales
The alcohol interlock program in New South Wales is a legislative voluntary program commenced in 2003 which allows people convicted of a drink driving offence to suspend part of their disqualification period by installing an alcohol interlock into their vehicle.
Northern Territory
Northern Territory commenced an Alcohol Ignition Lock Program on 9 April 2009. Within this program a person guilty of a relevant drink driving offence can install an Alcohol Ignition Lock into the vehicle after the disqualification period if ordered by the court. The Alcohol Ignition Lock period can be in the range from 6 months up to 3 years. If the offender decides to not have an Alcohol Ignition Lock installed, the disqualification period will be extended for the time the Alcohol Ignition Lock should have been installed.
For further information, please frequent the official governmental webpage.
Western Australia
Currently Western Australia does not have a legislative Alcohol Interlock Program.
Queensland
Currently Queensland does not have a legislative Alcohol Interlock Program.
Tasmania
Currently Tasmania does not have a legislative Alcohol Interlock Program.
New Zealand
Currently New Zealand does not have a legislative Alcohol Interlock Program.
