When it comes to choosing an Interlock, most decisions are made at the last minute when a client’s restricted license is about to expire, a fleet needs a driver back on the road and the first approved vendor is picked from a list of approved Interlock service providers off the internet whilst answering the phone to their sales team.
The fact that a company is approved on the state approved interlock vendors list does not necessarily make one interlock provider any better than another approved interlock company. In some cases, the service a vendor provides (i.e., how they schedule and perform interlock calibrations and how they report interlock events), their pricing, how they handle interlock related problems or incidents, and how easily their interlock reports can be entered into a probation officer’s or alcohol safety action program’s computer can be a better measurement of one interlock company over another.
Verify certification status the way a monitoring authority would
Some states approve certain models of devices but not the companies behind them. Further, it is not uncommon for a certain model to have been certified two years or so prior to the current date and since been superseded by a firmware upgrade not yet approved by the state.
What to confirm before anything else
- The exact model and firmware version the vendor intends to install, checked against the current state list rather than a printed brochure.
- Whether the provider has faced decertification, suspension, or corrective action in any jurisdiction where it operates.
- The provider’s authorization to service, calibrate, and remove the device, which some programs grant separately from installation authority.
Each jurisdiction has different interlock requirements. Check with the administering state agency for the most current list of approved devices and for reference to the relevant rules as the interlock vendor’s website will not always reflect the most current information.
Weigh the service network against the client’s actual geography
A company that sends someone out to a client’s location on a 30 or 60 day calibration cycle creates a lot of missed appointments as the service center is 90 minutes away from the client’s location. The client’s driver will get locked out of his or her vehicle and a violation report will be filed with the client’s driver’s violation even though the driver has never had a breath test failure.
Capacity questions that produce honest answers
- How many service centers operate within a thirty mile radius of the driver’s home or depot, and what are their weekend hours.
- What is the current average wait for a new installation appointment, not the advertised turnaround.
- Is mobile installation available, and does the state permit mobile calibration as well.
- What happens when a lockout occurs outside business hours, and is there a documented emergency code procedure.
Is the service center where you will be taking your interlock for maintenance owned by the company or is it a contract center run by an independent shop? In some cases these centers are located in remote areas and can cause problems with missed appointments and reliability of service, which is why a driver in the Commonwealth is usually better off with a Virginia ignition interlock company that owns and staffs its own shops.
Compare the full cost structure, not the monthly rate
Be careful to calculate the twelve-month cost for each candidate to ensure you are comparing them using the same assumptions. Most providers will advertise a “monthly” cost but the driver will pay a lot more for the year.
| Cost element | Typical structure | What to confirm |
| Installation | One time fee, sometimes discounted or waived | Whether a waiver is recovered through higher monthly charges |
| Monthly lease and monitoring | Flat monthly rate | Whether calibration visits are bundled or billed separately |
| Calibration and data download | Per visit, or included | Frequency required by the program, which drives total cost |
| Camera, GPS, or real time reporting | Add on module | Whether the program mandates it or the vendor defaults to it |
| Lockout and early service | Per incident | Fee for violation resets and unscheduled visits |
| Removal and deposit | One time, deposit refundable | Conditions that forfeit the deposit |
Also, note that many states have “indigency” programs that reduce interlock fees on a sliding scale basis. Find out if the vendor participates in such programs because a seemingly competitive quote may not work for an indigent client after all.
Examine how the device records events and how disputes are resolved
The report will include all the events that occurred on the Ignition Interlock Device. The way an aborted start attempt, a failed rolling retest, and a power interruption are handled by the device will affect how these events are reported. The court or administrative body will rely on the written report generated by the Ignition Interlock Device.
Reporting and correction practices
Ask how quickly data from an interlock device is uploaded to the supervising authority’s database (such as images from the interlock device’s camera as well as a declaration from the interlock technician). As noted above, a bare event log with no explanation for a positive reading can be of little use to counsel. Images and technician declaration with explanation of any positive readings within days of reading (as opposed to weeks) would be very useful.
Determine the provider’s internal procedure to correct a false report including who can amend a previously submitted report.
Align the provider with program obligations
As part of a compliance chain, for example a Virginia ignition interlock company reports to the supervising probation or alcohol safety action program office. How often a company’s reports surface problems is determined by the reporting schedule of the provider.
Obligations worth mapping before installation
Outline the requirements for the duration of monitoring and extension of monitoring, as well as the requirements for calibration, release from INTERLOCK. Ask each vendor for details regarding each of these areas and document the vendor’s specific explanation. Typically the vendor whose paperwork will satisfy the requirements will have explained the requirements in specific detail.
