Ignition Interlock In Hawaii

For many years, Hawaii has been one of the worst states in the nation in terms of the percent of total fatal traffic crashes which are alcohol related. This disturbing ranking is baffling, because our state leaders — legislative, executive, Judiciary, and community — have done so much to combat drunk driving.

It is important that Hawaii continues to deploy strategies like ignition interlocks that are effective at separating impairing substances from the act of driving.  Driving continues to be an earned privilege and ignition interlocks are a proven and effective tool in separating alcohol- involved driving from our roadways, while giving individuals the freedom to still drive sober to and from their destinations.

Offenders, not taxpayers, absorb the costs for the installation and operation of these devices. Offenders themselves favor interlock, because they can avoid a lengthy judicial or administrative license suspension that may precipitate a job loss or life-altering circumstances.

Hawaii’s Ignition Interlock Program began in January 2011, and since the inception of the program ignition interlocks have prevented 128,600 alcohol-positive starts.

With an interlock device, the offender is able to drive normally, pursuing his/her daily activities and career — but the public is safer, and lives are saved.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), like many other organizations in Hawaii and on the mainland, believes that people who are still driving drunk are doing it because they can — despite all the laws currently in place. In response to this sad fact, most states now recommend the use of ignition interlock devices in the vehicles of DUI offenders, and several states require interlocks for all offenders.

Learn more about the ignition interlock device by visiting the vendor’s website at www.smartstartinc.com/Hawaii.

To find a Smart Start service center near you in Hawaii, please click here.

Latest in news coverage relating to Ignition Interlocks: New interlock ignition law coming in 2023 to help first-time DUI offenders — and protect the public | News | kitv.com