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If you have committed a drink driving offence, you may lose your licence and be disqualified from driving for a specified period of time. After this time, you will be required by the Road Traffic Authority or courts to participate in an offender alcohol interlock program as mandated by your state authority, to demonstrate that you can drive responsibly without the influence of alcohol.

As part of your offender alcohol interlock program, you will be given a new licence with an interlock condition, meaning you cannot legally drive any vehicle without an ignition interlock device fitted. If you own multiple vehicles or drive a work vehicle, you must have an alcohol interlock fitted to each vehicle you drive.

Offender driving behaviour will be monitored for the duration of the program. To complete the program, offenders must demonstrate the ability to separate drinking and driving over a specified period of time. However, significant or repeated violations, such as attempting to drink and drive, missed or failed retests or tampering with the alcohol interlock, may lead to extended time on the program and additional penalties.

Each State or Territory has different rules for their Interlock Program, please check your state’s alcohol interlock program information page for specific guidance.

Guardian’s alcohol interlock devices are not just for drink driving offenders, many private customers choose to install our interlocks on their vehicles, ranging from responsible business owners to safety-conscious individuals and parents.

Interlocks for private and commercial use are available for purchase or hire and are programmable to meet the owner’s requirements. If you use your vehicle for business and your employer needs to be certain that its employees are 100% safe on the road each day, they may require an interlock system to be installed in their vehicles.

Alternatively, if you have made a mistake with alcohol but require access to a work vehicle for your occupation, your employer would have to have an interlock system installed in it for you to drive. We have many customers Australian wide that drive vehicles they do not own with interlocks fitted for work.

If you are looking to install a private interlock or more information on work vehicles for an offender program, contact our friendly and knowledgeable team.

In most cases, the alcohol interlock program is a mandatory requirement for individuals to regain a full licence after a period of disqualification from driving. If you choose not to participate, you may face an extended period of disqualification or other penalties, depending on your home state. Please see your state’s interlock program information page for more information.

The ignition interlock device cost for your alcohol interlock program is determined by the state, concession status, and vehicle of the participant. Please see your state’s interlock program information page for more information. A list of fees can also be found on this website.

Clients claiming concession are required to submit an e-Services Form. Click here to find an online form to complete and submit.

Alcohol interlock servicing varies depending on your state or territory of conviction. After the initial 30 day service you will typically have a scheduled service every 30-60 days.

Note that if you have any violations (as determined by the State or Territory Program) you will need an unscheduled interlock service which may mean that you return between the scheduled services. Please see your state’s interlock program information page for more information.

Your alcohol interlock can only be serviced by a Guardian approved centre. The use of an unauthorised interlock service centre is a breach of contract and may result in penalties. See the Service Centres page for a full list of Guardian interlock service centres.

At the end of your alcohol interlock program, you must pay a fee for interlock removal by one of Guardian’s approved service centres. If removing prior to the completion of your contract early termination fees may apply – these are refunded on return if reinstall is completed within 6 months.

If the interlock detects alcohol in your breath sample, it will register a ‘fail’, and the ignition will be locked (a ‘lockout’). You will be able to do another breath test after a short period of time, but please note that the vehicle will be immobilised after a certain number of lockouts.

The information is sent to the Road Traffic Authority in your State and could extend your program participation period.

Suppose you have failed too many breath tests within a certain period, and your vehicle is immobilised. In that case, you will need to arrange a visit to a service centre at your own expense or pay for a code to enable you to return your vehicle to the service centre.

You will need the call code from the head unit to complete your purchase. This can be obtained by pressing #5 on your head unit while the ignition is on. “UNLOCK xxhr” will display and countdown once the code is entered.

Ensure you return to the centre prior to 0 hours or you will need to purchase another code.

While it is technically possible to attempt to bypass or tamper with the alcohol interlock, it is strongly discouraged and can result in serious legal consequences. Guardian Interlock devices are fitted with a number of anti-tamper systems to prevent such actions. For example, the device requires a specific technique to provide a breath sample, and a certain volume of breath is needed to trigger a successful test. Further, the device will request additional samples at random points during the journey to ensure that the driver’s breath alcohol concentration remains within acceptable limits.

Attempting to bypass or tamper with the device can cause it to malfunction, resulting in recalls and potentially additional penalties. It is important to remember that tampering with the alcohol interlock is a serious offense and is reported to state authorities, which may result in the revocation of your driving privileges or further legal action.

It is always in your best interest to follow the guidelines of your interlock program and to comply with all program requirements. If you have any questions or concerns about the operation or maintenance of your device, please contact Guardian Interlock for support and guidance. We are here to help you successfully complete your interlock program and regain your driving privileges safely and responsibly.

Suppose you have not been drinking, but the ignition interlock has detected alcohol in my breath sample. In that case, there could be a number of reasons for this – certain foods or mouthwash containing alcohol, for example.

We recommend that you do not eat or drink for 5-15 minutes prior to taking a test and that you rinse your mouth with water first. If you think this may be the reason for your test failure, wait a few minutes and try again. Your user manual provides you with advice on this.

If you continue to have problems with your interlock device, don’t hesitate to contact Guardian or your nearest service centre for advice.

It is crucial to take every retest requested by the interlock device, even if you are about to turn off your vehicle. Missing a retest is considered a violation and can cause the device’s alarms to sound if not taken. These alarms can be audible, visual, or both, and can be quite loud and attention-grabbing.

Moreover, missed retests can also be reported to the relevant authorities, and may result in additional penalties or program extensions. It is important to follow all program requirements to ensure a successful completion of your interlock program.

In some cases, you may miss a retest due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a sudden illness or mechanical issue with your vehicle. If this happens, it is important to contact Guardian Interlock as soon as possible to report the issue and to determine the appropriate course of action.

At Guardian Interlock, we understand that navigating an interlock program can be challenging, which is why we offer comprehensive support and guidance to help you successfully complete your program. If you have any questions or concerns about missed retests or any other aspect of your interlock program, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts is always ready to assist you.

If your head unit displays a countdown you will need to return to a service centres before the countdown reach 0 hours. If you do not return your interlock will go into lockout and you will need to purchase a code.

“SvcLckxxday/hr” – You have missed you service date and are in a period of grace before the interlock locks out “VioLckxxday/hr” – You’ve caused a program violation and must return to the service centre before 0 hours. An unscheduled service fee will be payable on return.

“RECALL:* xxH” – An issue has been detected with your interlock. Return to the service centre to have it checked before 0 hours.

The best plan is to have the interlock removed until you are able to afford it. Removal and reinstall charges will apply but the lease costs continue and can end up costing you more than the removal/install. In most states an early termination fee also applies but is refunded if you return within 6 months.

It is a good idea to contact Guardian for advice if you are having difficulties to avoid unwanted additional fees and your account being escalated. We will do our best to work with you to assist in difficult situations.

The alcohol interlock device is designed to prevent a driver from starting their car if they have an elevated breath alcohol concentration or if they fail to provide a breath sample when requested. However, once the vehicle is running, the interlock device will not simply stop the car.

If a driver misses or fails a retest while driving, the device will activate its alarms and indicator lights to notify the driver that a retest is required. The alarms will continue to sound until the driver takes a successful retest or turns off the ignition. It is important to note that the alarms and indicator lights are not meant to distract the driver or cause panic. Instead, they are intended to ensure the driver is aware of the need to perform a retest and to encourage them to do so as soon as practically possible.

It is important to remember that the interlock device is a safety device that helps prevent impaired driving and promotes responsible driving habits. Complying with all program requirements, including taking all requested tests and attending all calibration appointments, is essential to successfully complete an interlock program.

In order to have your interlock breathalyser device removed at the end of your alcohol interlock program, you must visit one of our many approved service centres to remove the device from your vehicle. Because modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, we only use suitably qualified Auto Electricians and Mechanics to ensure that the alcohol interlock is correctly and seamlessly removed from your vehicle. Attempting to tamper with or remove the interlock device yourself is a direct violation of the rules of the program and will result in penalties. 

Below is an outline of the steps involved in an alcohol interlock program or scheme. These steps are intended to be a general overview of the program, as each state has different eligibility requirements. Details provided by your state government will offer more specific information than we can cover here.

STEP 1: Schedule An Install

Most participants choose to select a service centre, often based on convenience. For example, access to their residence or workplace. You can also shop around in order to seek out the best cost of installation, service and removal.

STEP 2: Installation And Training

An interlock can be installed in virtually any vehicle, provided there is an ignition switch. Some vehicles will require extra work and/or extra parts, which results in extra costs. Your chosen service centre can provide you with a quote for installation and how long they will require your vehicle. 

Training is completed at the service centre during installation, and we encourage all users of the vehicle to attend. You will need to organise someone to drive you to your installation appointment, as your driving privileges will have been suspended.

STEP 3: Complete Mandated Period

The minimum and maximum program period will vary depending on program requirements for your state. Offenders will only complete the program when they have demonstrated sufficient and prolonged responsible driving behaviour.

The duration of a participant’s program will also depend upon their performance on the alcohol interlock. After each interlock service, the data downloaded is transmitted to the authority, who will then assess the performance log. Any violations of the program can extend the period of participation.

STEP 4: Removal Of Interlock Device

Upon completing an alcohol interlock program, participants can have the device removed (fees apply) by one of Guardians Service Centres. Ensure that you bring your Government Authority Advice if required.