Ignition Interlock
Justice & Public Safety
Overview
When a person is convicted of impaired driving, the judge may allow the accused to participate in the Ignition Interlock program. An Ignition Interlock device prevents a driver from starting or driving a vehicle when under the influence of alcohol.
Eligibility
Conditions to participate in the Ignition Interlock Program
• You have been convicted of impaired driving or refusing a breathalyser demand.
• The court has not disallowed your use of an alcohol ignition interlock device.
• You have served the court ordered minimum mandatory prohibition period.
• You have served all other suspensions, paid all outstanding fines and completed any required alcohol re-education course(s).
• You have completed all other reinstatement requirements and conditions.
• You are not participating in the Graduated Driver Licence Program.
• The vehicle in which the interlock device is to be installed has a valid registration.
The participant is the registered owner of the vehicle in which the interlock device is to be installed or has written permission from the registered owner to install the interlock device.
There is still a defined period of total licence suspension before the person may enrol in the program. The actual minimum defined period of suspension to be served is determined by the court at the time of sentencing.
Description
Eligible drivers will have interlock devices installed in their vehicles. The driver will be issued a restricted drivers licence which only allows them to operate vehicles equipped with an alcohol Ignition Interlock device.
The device is a mechanism similar to a breathalyzer, which is installed in a vehicle's dashboard. Before the vehicle can be started, the driver must blow and hum into the device. If the analyzed result is over a programmed blood alcohol concentration, the vehicle will not start.
At random times after the engine has been started, the device will require another breath sample. The purpose of this is to prevent a friend from breathing and humming into the device, enabling the intoxicated person to get behind the wheel and drive away. If the breath sample isn't provided, or the sample exceeds the ignition interlock's preset blood alcohol level, the device will log the event, warn the driver and then start up an alarm (e.g., lights flashing, horn honking, etc.) until the ignition is turned off. A common misconception is that interlock devices will simply turn off the engine if alcohol is detected; this would, however, create an unsafe driving situation and expose interlock manufacturers to considerable liability.
Participants bear the cost of the program.
Effective April 1, 2023, the monthly monitoring fee is $70 per device plus applicable taxes. There may be additional costs for heavy trucks or specialized vehicles.
Installation fees are dependent on make and model of vehicle. Fees will be determined by the installer.
All costs are paid to the service provider by program participants on a user pay basis.
Fees
Unless otherwise specified, Fees exclude the harmonized sales tax (HST).
| Fee Description | Rate in $ | Effective Date YYYY-MM-DD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly monitoring fee per device | 70.00 | 2023-04-01 | |
| Contact Information | Location | |
|---|---|---|
|
Fredericton
|