New interlock helps curtail drunk driving

Posted at: 07/29/2009 8:52 PM | Updated at: 07/30/2009 9:30 AM
By: Eyewitness News 4

Jim Burton demonstrates the picture interlock

New Mexico drunk drivers may have finally met their match in an ignition interlock device some say is almost fool proof.

The state has stepped up the fight against drunk drivers, but no tool or idea has ever had 100 percent success--until now.

Jim Burton of A-Interlock says the device he's been installing over the past five months—an interlock with a camera—is showing great results.

"Right now it's as fool proof as we can get," he said.

Right now, only Albuquerque Metro Court is using the camera interlock's pilot program, but it's use is expected to be expanded across the state in the next few months.

Judges typically require camera interlocks for drivers who have several DWIs, or who have tampered with regular interlocks. Burton says recently, more judges have been ordering the camera interlocks for suspects who are awaiting trial.

In order to start their car, offenders have to put the key in the ignition, pick up the device, and hold it in front of a tiny camera.

"The device must stay in view of the camera in order to take the test," Burton said. "If I drop it out of view or out of the sight of the camera, it'll automatically fail that test."

That means drunk drivers can't have their sober passengers blow into the device for them, which is a frequent problem with regular interlocks.

Dean Mills of Smart Start Interlock, the only other company in the state installing the cameras, says so far no offenders have tried to cheat the system by having someone else blow into the interlock for them.

"A picture paints a thousand words, but in this case, a picture stops a thousand excuses," he said.

Among the consequences for DWI offenders, interlock cameras will set them back more than $280.

So far, the two companies have installed 85 camera interlocks.

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