Abstract: Provides relative to ignition interlock devices and maintenance services.
Present law defines an ignition interlock device as a constant monitoring device that prevents a
motor vehicle from being started at anytime without first determining the blood alcohol level of the
operator through the taking a of breath sample for testing.
Proposed law modifies present law by having the device prevent a motor vehicle from operating and
requiring it be equipped with a camera capable of recording a digital image of the person using the
device.
Present law defines "ignition interlock device" as a constant monitoring device that prevents a motor
vehicle from being started at any time without first determining the equivalent blood alcohol level
of the operator through the taking of a breath sample for testing. The system must be calibrated so
that the motor vehicle may not be started if the blood alcohol level of the operator, as measured by
the test, reaches a level established by the court, consistent with the rules promulgated by the Dept.
of Public Safety and Corrections.
Proposed law modifies present law by providing that the definition for ignition interlock device will
be the same definition as set forth in proposed law.
Proposed law requires the ignition interlock device be calibrated for accuracy by using a dry alcohol
standard with an alcohol reference value between .020 and .050g/210L.
Proposed law provides procedures for calibration including a three second purge prior to introducing
a reference sample into a device if using more than six inches of open tubing, an "as found" check
to introduce the sample into the device without an adjustment for accuracy which consists of
reference checks with the result of each check being within plus or minus 0.005g/210L of the
reference value introduced into the device, and a requirement to remove any device that does not
pass calibration after adjustment while keeping the serial number of the device on record for three
years.
Present law requires the rules and regulations that the secretary sets for the proper approval,
installation, and use of ignition interlock devices include but not be limited to requirements that the
devices or systems: (1) do not impede the safe operation of the vehicle, (2) correlate with established
measures of alcohol impairment, (3) work accurately and reliably in an unsupervised environment,
(4) resist tampering and give evidence if tampering is attempted, (5) are difficult to circumvent, (6)
minimize inconvenience to a sober user, (7) require a proper, deep lung breath sample or other
accurate measure of blood alcohol content equivalence, (8) operate reliably over the range of
automobile environments, and (9) are manufactured by a party who will provide product liability
insurance and a bond against malfunction of the device.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing the present law requirements and mandating the
rules and regulations include but are not limited to requiring the devices: (1) are manufactured by
a business entity that will provide product liability insurance and a bond against malfunction of the
device, (2) are installed in such a manner that it must not interfere with the normal operation of the
vehicle after it is started, (3) protects against compromise or circumvention and preserves evidence
of such activity, (4) are resistant to tampering, (5) have the ability to work reliably and accurately
in an unsupervised environment, (6) are designed to permit a "restart" within three minutes of a stall
or when the ignition has been turned off, (7) measure a person's breath-alcohol concentration by the
delivery of a deep lung sample directly into the device, (8) prevent operation of the vehicle if the
breath-alcohol concentration of the sample introduced into the device exceeds 0.02g of alcohol per
210L of breath, (9) ensure the automatic and complete purge of residual alcohol before allowing
subsequent tests, (10) allow a minimum of 1200ml or 1.2L of breath for an acceptable breath sample,
(11) require random retests, (12) include a supply of two disposable mouth pieces upon installation,
designed to minimize the introduction of saliva into an ignition interlock device, (13) have all
primary components, as identified by the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state
police, applied technology unit, with a unique serial number, which includes, but is not limited to,
the storage device, handset, and camera, (14) enter a permanent lockout if the ignition interlock
device has not been calibrated and serviced within a period of 35 days subsequent to its installation
or last calibration or inspection, whichever occurs first, (15) uniquely identify and record each time
the vehicle has a start attempt or is actually started, the results of all tests and retests violations, how
long the vehicle was operated, and any indication of circumvention or tampering with the ignition
interlock device or tests, (16) on or before January 1, 2021, require a restricted operator to wait five
minutes before attempting to start the vehicle a second or third time, and 30 minutes prior to any
subsequent attempts to start the vehicle after the initial start failure occurs, (17) visibly indicate to
the user or any qualified person that the unit is on, the unit is in need of service or calibration, the
passage or failure of the breath alcohol content threshold on the breath sample introduced, and any
other indication required by the dept., (18) enter into violation reset under certain conditions, (19)
if a violation reset occurs, the device must enter into a permanent lockout within five days unless the
device is serviced at a mobile or fixed site service center by an ignition interlock technician or
calibration technician where it will be calibrated and downloaded, and (20) incorporate a camera that
does not distract or impede the driver in any manner from the safe and legal operation of the vehicle.
Proposed law requires a camera be installed on any new ignition interlock device beginning Jan. 1,
2021, and all devices by March 31, 2021.
Proposed law requires the manufacturer, vendor, ignition interlock technician or calibration
technician to notify the originating court, if any, of violation reset conditions within five days of
servicing an ignition interlock device.
Proposed law further requires the manufacturer, vendor or ignition interlock technician or calibration
technician to provide notification to the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor
vehicles, and the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, applied technology
unit in an acceptable electronic format.
Proposed law requires all reports to the originating court, Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections,
office of motor vehicles, and the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police,
applied technology unit include: (a) the full name, address, and driver's license number of the
restricted operator and lessee, (b) the registration number of the motor vehicle in which the ignition
interlock device was installed, (c) the unique serial number of the ignition interlock device, and (d)
the toll free telephone number of a representative that can explain the report from an ignition
interlock device.
Proposed law authorizes the deputy secretary to set and collect nonrefundable fees applicable to the
certification, renewal or recertification of ignition interlock devices, service centers, and technicians.
Proposed law further provides the fees must be remitted to the manufacturer, vendor, or service
center to the office of state police, applied technology unit on or before the 25th day of each month.
Proposed law requires special costs associated with an installation verification fee or 30 day
calibration fee be forwarded on or before the 25th day of each month following their collection to
the state treasurer for immediate deposit in the state treasury.
Proposed law requires the treasurer to create a special fund in the state treasury designated as the
Public Safety Ignition Interlock Regulation Fund, and to credit an amount equal to the total amount
of costs received after compliance with requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution
of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
Proposed law further requires the funds in the Public Safety Ignition Interlock Regulation Fund be
used solely to fund activities of the office of state police, applied technology unit in executing its
responsibilities in the regulation of ignition interlock devices, service centers and technicians.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police to provide
standards for the certification, installation, repair, maintenance, monitoring, inspection, and removal
of ignition interlock devices in accordance with present law.
Proposed law requires a manufacturer or vendor to notify affected customers of any changes in their
service agreement during any suspension or revocation period as a result of an ignition interlock
device technician that is found to be out of compliance.
Proposed law grants an ignition interlock device technician the right to an administrative hearing
pursuant to present law to contest the suspension or revocation, or both. Proposed law further
provides standards for requesting a hearing, hearing procedure, and evidence.
Proposed law requires an ignition interlock device to employ: (a) fuel cell technology, specific for
alcohols, (b) other alcohol specific technology approved by the Dept. of Public Safety and
Corrections, office of state police, applied technology unit, which meets present law federal
standards, (c) technology capable of taking a photograph identifying the user providing the breath
sample and recording the time the breath sample was provided, and (d) technology capable of
providing the global positioning coordinates at the time of each rolling retest refusal or
circumvention when required by the originating court, the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections,
office of motor vehicles, or office state police, applied technology unit.
Proposed law requires an ignition interlock device meet or exceed the minimum test standards
according to rules adopted by the office of state police, applied technology unit, and be maintained
in accordance with the rules and standards adopted by the office of state police.
Proposed law requires the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police to provide
standards and monitor compliance for ignition interlock affordability plans for individuals.
Proposed law provides that economic hardship is defined as an individual that is eligible for
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid. Proposed law further provides
that individuals that meet the economic standard will not be required to pay more than 50% of the
assessed fees.
Proposed law provides that individuals that meet the economic hardship standard are responsible for
any optional services an individual elects, fees related to any violation reset or permanent lockout
as defined in present law, state mandated fees, and any costs related to damaged, missing or
unreturned equipment and recovery of such equipment.
Proposed law provides that individuals become eligible for the affordability plan on the date that the
individual provides the ignition interlock manufacturer or ignition interlock service center acceptable
documentation verifying that the individual meets the standard for economic hardship.
Proposed law prevents an ignition interlock manufacturer or ignition interlock service center from
refusing service to an individual that has demonstrated eligibility for the affordability plan in
accordance with this proposed law.
Proposed law grants an individual who feels that they have been refused service after providing the
documentation required under proposed law the right to file a complaint with the office of state
police, applied technology unit. Proposed law further provides that all complaints must be
investigated within 30 days of receipt of the complaint.
Proposed law provides that if the investigation substantiates the refusal of service, the office of state
police, applied technology unit may issue a warning, suspension, or revocation of the certification
for the ignition interlock manufacturer or service center based on the facts of the investigation and
history of similar complaints related to manufacturer or service center.
Present law provides that the court may require any person placed on probation as provided for in
R.S. 14:98(B) and must require any person placed on probation as provided in R.S. 14:98(C) not
operate a motor vehicle during the period of probation unless the vehicle is equipped with a
functioning ignition interlock device.
Proposed law changes the references in present law from R.S. 14:98(B) to 98.1 and from R.S.
14:98(C) to 98.2.
Present law provides that if an offender has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20 percent or more
by body weight on a first offense DWI, the offender must be issued a restricted driver's license for
a two-year period and be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle for the
first 12 months of the two-year period.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight and requiring the ignition interlock device be installed for the entire
two-year period.
Present law further provides that if an offender has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20 percent or
more by body weight on a second offense DWI, the offender must be issued a restricted driver's
license for a four-year period and be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his
vehicle during the first three years of the four-year period.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight and requiring the ignition interlock device be installed for the entire
four-year period.
Present law provides that upon a first conviction or a plea of guilty or no contest and the offender
has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20 percent or more by body weight, the offender must have
his driver's license suspended for two years, receive a restricted driver's license for the entire period
after proving that he has an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle, which must remain
installed for the first 12 months of the two-year period.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight and requiring the ignition interlock device be installed for the entire
two-year period.
Present law further provides that upon a second conviction or a plea of guilty or no contest and the
offender has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.20 percent or more by body weight, the offender
must have his driver's license suspended for four years, receive a restricted driver's license after the
first 45 days of the four-year suspension after proving that he has an ignition interlock device
installed on his vehicle, which must remain installed for the first three years of the four-year period.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight and requiring the ignition interlock device be installed for the entire
four-year period.
Present law grants eligibility for a restricted driver's license to any licensee who has had their license
suspended for a DWI violation after a period of 12 months upon proof that his vehicle is equipped
with an ignition interlock device. Proposed law requires the device remain on the vehicle for six
months after issuance of the restricted driver's license.
Proposed law modifies present law by eliminating the 12 month waiting period for the restricted
driver's license and requires the device remain on the vehicle for 12 months after issuance of the
restricted driver's license.
Present law provides that on or after September 30, 2003, if a person has submitted to a breath
alcohol concentration test and the test results show a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or above
by weight, his driving privileges will be suspended for 90 days from the date of suspension on first
offense violation, without eligibility for a hardship license for the first 30 days, and for 365 days
from the date of suspension, without eligibility for a hardship license, on second and subsequent
violations occurring within five years of the first offense.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing the enacting date, increasing the suspension for a
first offense from 90 days to 180 days, removing the provision disallowing a person eligibility for
a hardship license.
Present law provides that if a person has submitted to a breath alcohol concentration test and the test
results show a blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent or above by weight, his driving privileges will be
suspended for two years on a first offense violation and for four years on a second offense violation.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight.
Present law provides that any licensee whose license has been suspended for a first or second DWI
offense and either refused to submit to the test or submitted to the test and the test showed a blood
alcohol level of less than 0.20 percent must, upon proof that his motor vehicle has been equipped
with a functioning ignition interlock device, be immediately granted a restricted license.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight.
Present law provides that if a person has submitted to the test as a result of a first violation and the
test results show a blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent or above by weight, he will be eligible for a
hardship license during the entire period of the imposed two-year suspension after he shows proof
that his motor vehicle is equipped with an ignition interlock device, which must remain installed on
his motor vehicle during the first 12 month period of his driver's license suspension.
Proposed law modifies present law by lowering the blood alcohol concentration threshold to 0.15
percent or more by body weight and requiring the device be installed for the entire period of
suspension.
Present law provides that if a person has submitted to the test as a result of a second violation and
the test results show a blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent or above by weight, he will be eligible for<