Our Ignition Interlock Devices will not shut off the engine while you’re driving.
Smart Start goes to great lengths to ensure the safety of our drivers and our devices. That’s why none of our Ignition Interlock Devices will ever turn off the car while you’re driving.
An Ignition Interlock Device (IID) — also often called a “blow-and-go” or a “car breathalyzer” — is installed in a vehicle to ensure that you do not start the car while under the influence of alcohol. You must pass a breath test in order for the car to start.
Once you have successfully started the engine, the Ignition Interlock Device will require periodic random retests to prove that you are not drinking. These are typically called “rolling retests,” although it’s more accurate to call them random retests. We strongly encourage you to pull over to the side of the road in order to take a random retest. The device gives you plenty of time to pull over to a safe space so you can focus on taking a test.
If you fail a random retest, the device will register it and report any violation. But the Ignition Interlock will never shut off your car.
These tests are mandatory—not because the Ignition Interlock will cause the vehicle to shut off without them, but because a skipped random retest will result in a violation. That could affect the duration of your restricted driving program.