Steering wheel alcohol lock

First the Alcolock, now Dennis Bellehumeur (inventor, deli owner) has received a patent for an alcohol sensing device which can be installed in a steering wheel or "in gloves." The device checks the driver's alcohol consumption via the skin and can prevent a vehicle from starting or running (if roadtrippin') if the driver is over the legal limit. Testing of the device will likely be completed this year, but due to its $600 price tag you won't see this as a standard option in your father's Oldsmobile anytime soon.

[ECM @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

I assume the point of this is for voluntarily checking one's BAC since something high tech like a pair of disposable gloves would render this useless--all w/o calling in the forces of Hong Kong for a workaround.

[Taylor Alexander @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

Especially since they no longer make Oldsmobiles. ;)
-Taylor

[quanta @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

That's the problem with systems like this. They are well-meaning, but easy to defeat by the hardcore alcoholics, and a big nuisance for the responsible drinkers.

[Allan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

Gloves?

[kbiel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

...or on any Oldsmobile, for that matter.

[furtim @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

This sounds like it'd be aimed more at rental places. I could see them plunking down $600 or so as insurance that their vehicles won't end up plowing through streetlights or whatever.

But, no, it won't stop alcoholics who own their own cars. They'll just avoid installing systems like these, easy as pie.

[Jonathan N. @ Dec 19th 2005 2:05AM]

Maybe make it take a reading once to start the car and once every 5 minutes to make sure a "buddy" doesn't spoof the system. Make it a deadman type switch. If it can't read your "skin" the car simply won't run. But that brings up the possibility of what happens if this unit breaks and leaves you stranded.
Beyond that I consider this a good idea for chronic dumbasses�who drink and drive. Anyone who is caught DWIing twice should be forced to use such a system for 5 years with a black box that is routinely checked by the state to see if 1. The system has been tampered with.
2. You even attempted to get behind the wheel drunk at which point they jack your license permanently.
Sorry but I have no tolerance for chronic DWIing bastards.