Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Scheme

The Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Scheme

Drink driving remains a significant factor in fatalities and serious injuries on South Australian roads. The mandatory scheme is one of a number of measures aimed at drink drivers. Other initiatives that have been introduced to deter drink driving behaviour, are:

  • increasing the number of breath tests being performed
  • introduction of full-time mobile random breath testing
  • immediate loss of licence for high level drink driving offenders.

Crash data shows the percentage of drivers and riders killed with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit has increased over the last decade.

What is the Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Scheme?

The Alcohol Interlock Scheme is mandatory for drivers disqualified from driving following a serious drink driving offence.

The driver must re-apply for a licence and fit an alcohol interlock breath-testing device to their vehicle before they can resume driving.

An alcohol interlock is a small breath-testing device, about the size of an electric shaver, which is fitted to the ignition of a vehicle. It measures the level of alcohol in your breath after you blow into it allowing you to drive legally but preventing you from driving if alcohol is detected.

The driver is responsible for all costs associated with the installation, rental, servicing and removal of the alcohol interlock device.

A serious drink driving offence is defined as:
  • driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor
  • refusing a breath test
  • refusing a blood test
  • driving with a Blood Alcohol Category Level 3; at or above 0.15
  • driving with a Blood Alcohol Content Category 2 (a reading of 0.08 and up to 0.14) where a previous alcohol offence (other than a Category 1 offence with a BAC less than 0.08) exists within the last five years..

    Drink driving remains a significant factor in deaths and serious injuries on our roads.  If you're thinking of drinking - don't take the car!

The MR1355 Mandatory Alcohol Interlock Scheme (PDF, 2820 KB) brochure contains more information.

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