The Alcolock car breathalizer
By Simon Spagnoletti 
posted Aug 24th 2004 3:33AM
posted Aug 24th 2004 3:33AM
Various parts of the UK are conducting trials of the
Alcolock, a breathalizer-type system that attaches to a car's ignition and requires the driver to blow into a tube
before starting the car. If the blood alcohol content is too high, the car won't start. It's being targeted at
those previously convicted of drunk driving, possibly as a way to regain their licenses sooner. On a side note, we
wouldn't mind an alternative ignition system based on this. Though just the breathing tube alone, minus the
suspicion. Put your key in and blow the breath of life into your car. Think of the power.
Before getting sozzled, blow "clean" air into a balloon and set it aside. When you get back to your car, put the balloon over the mouthpiece and you should be good to go.
In more rural areas (i.e., Iowa), I am told, they just leave the cars/trucks running while they go into the bar and have a little somethin'
he was on a drunk driving "work permit" deal.
I remember he had to blow into that thing for 30 seconds straight. If he didn't have the lungs he'd have to try again. Fail 3 times and the car wouldn't start for an hour.
Over the summer there was a girl in my ethics class who had to have one of these kits installed in her car after a dui; says it's a real pain and locks up on hot days. On the other hand, she said it was better than house arrest with one of those ankle guards. So, while the Brits are till testing, I guess the program's active here in Pinellas county, Florida.
Co-worker we appropriately named Dui had one in his truck. There was no balloon trick for this, and leaving the truck running didn't get around it either because at random times while the truck was running it would make you blow again. Thats means while your driving it will have you blow again so you have to pull to the side of the road and blow into it or put the truck in nuetral, turn it off, and blow into it.
And in NC you have to pay for the thing and you only get one and it must stay on the vehicle it is installed on so for those of you that ride motorcycles you're screwed. Taxi doesn't seem that expensive when you think about how much your life would suck with a Dui.
This system has been in place since December 2001 in Ontario, Canada.
See:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/impaired/interlock/
I thought buying bottled water was ludicrous. Now a sober passerby could be "persuaded" by the various human motivators to offer his "Clean Air" to start an intoxicated driver's car. Can you imagine being mugged for your breath? A Brave New World it is.
What's to keep someone who's sober/non-drinker with you to blow in it for you? Or pulling over and giving somebody some bills to blow in it for you? They can usually borrow somone else's car? I'm all for it, but it seems easily defeated to me. Maybe they could take it one extra step by doing a retina scan simultaniously while they are blowing into it.
I asked for this device on my own & have had nothing but nightmares with it. It frequently asks for redos & being completely sober I can fail. It can cost me up to $1oo.oo to have it right. What a rip! Try to do something right!?I will not risk driving with my kids anymore but this is ridiculous!
in use in orange county california as well. buddy's got 6 DUIs (don't ask me hows he not in jail) -- and finally had to get one installed.