NCJ Number
226670
Journal
International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2009 Pages: 108-122
Date Published
2009
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined data reports collected on a sample of interlock users who were court-ordered to install the device as a result of a DWI (driving while intoxicated) conviction in the State of Arkansas.
Abstract
Results support the hypothesis that the ignition interlock is an effective method of opportunity blocking. This study reports that 44.6 percent of the subjects were prevented from driving while legally intoxicated at least one time. These data suggest that the ignition interlock is quite effective in preventing drunken driving in an interlock equipped vehicle. The interlock system attempts to limit circumvention by features such as the rolling retest which requires another clean breath sample after a predetermined time interval. The fact that one-third of the subjects experienced at least one retest violation may indicate attempts at circumvention. Nearly 12 percent of the subjects used the by-pass switch to start the vehicle at least once. These events could be a method of circumvention so as to permit driving under the influence, or could simply be the result of a mechanical malfunction in the interlock device. The study suggests that the device is effective in preventing drunken driving among persons convicted of DWI. The number of false positives is problematic as are the number of retest violations and by-pass events. These factors require human intervention and discretion which prevents the ignition interlock from being a purely technological intervention in the offense of drunken driving. Data were collected from monthly data reports obtained by an interlock provider in Arkansas regarding 1,945 subjects who were convicted of DWI in district courts in 20 counties from 1995 to 1999. 10 tables and 25 references