Frank Russo & Marc Pelletier
Attorneys at Law
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(727) 578-0303

Defending Pinellas County
Clients Charged With:

• DUI

• Driving While License Suspended or Revoked

• Violation of Driver's License Restrictions

All Felony and Misdemeanor Offenses

How Accurate is an ignition interlock device?

Ignition interlock devices utilize either "fuel cell" or "gas sensor" technology. As such, they are less accurate than the intoxilyzer machines used by law enforcement. Intoxilyzers employ a somewhat more discriminating science called "infrared spectrometry." However, even the accuracy of intoxilyzer testing falls far short of blood testing. This more exact science makes use of a laboratory process known as "gas chromatography. "Gas chromatography" reports only the ethyl alcohol present in the sample. Whereas, these lesser testing methods are non-specific for ethyl alcohol and have to be careful with improperly detecting other irrelevant methyl alcohol-like substances. 

 

For a more in-depth analysis of breath versus blood testing see our article: Your Right to an Independent Blood Test. 

You can also learn about a unique flashlight designed to enable law enforcement to "sniff" out otherwise undetected alcohol from within a motorist's vehicle by reading our article on the Passive Alcohol Sensor

Which ignition interlock devices are approved for use in Florida?

Florida's Ignition Interlock Background & History

On June 27, 2003 the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles scheduled a public meeting to evaluate final proposals by ignition interlock vendors. The records of the Department reflect that formal bid solicitations were received from six different vendors. (reference bid # 023-03 Ignition Interlock Device Program) Click here to review Alcohol Countermeasure Systems bid transmittal letter. Click here to review Alcohol Countermeasure Systems ninety-seven page bid which includes details concerning the history and qualifications of the company, their equipment, proposed installation, service, and monitoring standards.  

An "intent to award" contract was subsequently issued to Alcohol Countermeasure Systems Corp. (ACS). However, on 9/2/03 DHSMV drafted a letter to the Clerk's of Court explaining that the contract had been formally "protested" by a competing interlock provider who had lost in the earlier bidding process. As a result, the implementation of Florida's Ignition Interlock Program was delayed beyond the anticipated 9/1/03 start-up date. Subsequent mediation in September 2003 resulted in a second provider, Livesafer Interlock, Inc. to offer its device and services exclusively within certain designated Florida Counties. 

The ignition interlock models that were ultimately selected for  use in Florida were required to meet standards published in the Federal Register, Volume 57, No. 67, page 11772 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In this regard, ACS offers its model WR2 Interlock Device for participants in Florida's Ignition Interlock Program. It is interesting to note that in a previous DHSMV certificate dated May 24, 2000, the WR2 was found to fully comply with Rule 15A-9 of the Florida Administrative Code and Federal Regulatory Specifications. Thus, this same ACS device had previously been approved for use by Florida Judges back when ignition interlock installation was only a "discretionary" sentencing option.  

An administrative review process commenced in the case of Lifesafer Interlock, Inc  vs. DHSMV, Case No: 03-2726BID. On 9/17/03 successful mediation in this case resulted in an agreement whereby Alcohol Counter Measures, Inc. and Lifesafers Interlock, Inc. would both provide interlock service within certain designated exclusive areas of the state. That agreement was subsequently approved by Ella Jane P. Davis, Administrative Law Judge and sets forth the following designated counties for each Ignition Interlock provider:

Ignition Interlock Service Providers in the State of Florida

Lifesafer Interlock, Inc. to Service North Region:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Putnam, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington

Alcohol Countermeasure Systems, Inc. to Service South Region:   
Note: Alcohol Countermeasure Systems operates under the trade name of “Interlock Systems of Florida.”  

Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Dade, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceloa, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie

South in Blue:  (Alcohol Countermeasure Systems, Inc.)