Alcohol Ignition Lock Program
Background
In the five years from 2003 to 2007 inclusive a total of 244 people lost their lives on Northern Territory (NT) roads. Alcohol was a factor in 118 (48%) of these deaths.
As part of a range of initiatives aimed at increasing safety on NT roads the NT Government has introduced an Alcohol Ignition Lock (AIL) Program which will commence on 9 April 2009.
The AIL Program will only affect repeat drink drivers convicted of a relevant offence on a second or subsequent occasion.
Relevant Drink Driving Offences |
| Driving with a high range blood alcohol content (BAC of 0.15% or greater) |
| Driving with a medium range blood alcohol content (BAC of 0.08% or greater, but less than 0.15%) |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or both alcohol and a drug |
| Failing to provide a sufficient sample of breath for a breath analysis |
| Failing to give a sample of blood for analysis |
| Driving with alcohol in the blood if the driver is subject to zero alcohol limit |
The Process
If a court finds a person guilty of a relevant drink driving offence (see list above), and they have previously been convicted of at least one before, the court may, in addition to disqualifying a person from driving for a mandatory period, also order an AIL period ranging from 6 months to 3 years.
When the mandatory disqualification period ends, a person can apply for an AIL licence and have an AIL device installed by an approved supplier, or if they opt not to drive, serve out the court imposed AIL period as an additional disqualification period.
To obtain an AIL licence a person must have held a driver licence other than a learner licence within the previous 5 years and completed the Drink Driver Education course relevant to the offence.
Alcohol Ignition Locks
An alcohol ignition lock (AIL) is an electronic breath testing device connected to the ignition system of a vehicle. Its function is to prevent the vehicle being started if the driver has been drinking.
Before the ignition can be turned on, the AIL requires the driver to blow an adult volume of air in a certain way into the device. A microcomputer within the AIL analyses the breath sample for alcohol concentration. If the breath sample is below the pre-set alcohol limit, the vehicle can be started.
In order to ensure that the driver remains sober throughout the journey, the AIL requires the driver to provide further breath samples at random intervals.
Anti Circumvention
AILs have sophisticated features to reduce the possibility of circumvention including but not limited to:
- Temperature and pressure sensors to confirm “human” breath samples;
- Data recording of all events relating to use or misuse of the AIL system in the vehicle; and
- Running retests.
Alcohol Ignition Lock Operating Parameters
The operating parameters for AILs used in the NT include the following:
| Item | Description | Setting | Comments |
| 1 | Initial breath test | 0.02% BAC | Vehicle will not start at or above this setting. |
| 2 | Breath retest | 0.02% BAC | Driver must pull over and both audible and visual alarms will activate if retest is at or above this setting. |
| 3 | High BAC | 0.05% BAC | A breath test, or retest, at or above this level is deemed to be a high BAC reading. |
| 4 | First running retest | 5-10 minutes | Random time interval after first starting the engine within which a breath retest will be required. |
| 5 | Second and subsequent running retests | 15-60 minutes | Random time intervals following previous successful retest within which a breath retest will be required. |
| 6 | Lockout time for breath test equal to 0.02% BAC but below 0.05% BAC | 5 minutes | Duration before a further breath test will be allowed. |
| 7 | Lockout time for breath test of 0.05% BAC or above | 30 minutes | Duration before a further breath test will be allowed. |
| 8 | Free start time | 3 minutes | Time allowed following initial breath test being passed or stalling of Vehicle to restart Vehicle before a further breath sample is required. |
| 9 | First scheduled service following installation | 30 days | To ensure Participant is using device correctly. |
| 10 | Subsequent scheduled services | 60 days | When nearest Agent is located up to and including 150kms from Participant’s residential address. |
| 11 | Subsequent scheduled services | 90 days | When nearest Agent is located greater than 150kms from Participant’s residential address. |
| 12 | Service grace period | 7 days | The number of days past the service due date before the Vehicle will enter a permanent lockout. |
| 13 | Violation service grace period | 7 days | The number of days following the reaching of or exceeding of maximum violations before the Vehicle will enter a permanent lockout. |
| 14 | Initial breath test violations (below 0.05% BAC) | 10 per month | Maximum number of failed initial breath tests at which time a violation service is required. |
| 15 | Initial breath test violations (0.05% BAC or above) | 5 per month | Maximum number of failed initial breath tests at which time a violation service is required. |
| 16 | Retest breath violations | 5 per month | Maximum number of failed breath retests at which time a violation service is required. |
| 17 | Breath retest refusal violations | 5 per month | Maximum number of breath retest refusals at which time a violation service is required. |
| 18 | Emergency override | 1 time | Maximum number of uses of the emergency override at which time a violation service is required. |
| 19 | Violation alarm | Car horn and hazard lights | With the exception of initial breath test violations all other violations will result in car horn sounding and hazard lights flashing until such time as the engine is turned off or a successful breath test is provided. |
Cost of Participating in the Alcohol Ignition Lock Program
The cost for the issuing of an AIL licence is $48 irrespective of the length of the AIL period.
Cost for installation, removal, monthly rental and unscheduled servicing may vary between suppliers and eligible participants should carefully check the cost and requirements before entering into an agreement with a supplier.
Subsidy Scheme
To assist NT low income earners a subsidy of $50 off the cost of installation, removal and monthly rental of the AIL has been introduced. To be eligible to claim the subsidy you must:
- hold a valid Commonwealth (Centrelink) Health Care Card;
- be a resident of the NT;
- nominate a vehicle that the AIL will be fitted to that is currently registered; and
- be eligible to undertake the AIL Program.
Applicants for the low income earner subsidy who do not hold a Health Care Card may be eligible for the subsidy subject to providing an income statement issued by Centrelink in the name of the applicant and clearly demonstrating that the applicant is receiving the maximum rate of pension.
Approved Suppliers
At the time of commencing the Program the following suppliers are authorised to supply AILs and services relating to AILs:
Guardian Interlock Systems Australasia Pty Ltd
22/9 Hoyle Avenue
Castle Hill NSW 2154
Telephone: 1300 881 005
Email: interlocks@bigpond.com
Interstate and Overseas Drivers
Holders of an AIL licence issued in another jurisdiction (in Australia or overseas) are not eligible to transfer their licence to the NT until such time as the AIL condition has been removed by their home jurisdiction.
Upon application, and subject to certain conditions, the Registrar may exempt drivers in this situation from the requirement to transfer their licence to the NT. This will enable these AIL licence holders to continue driving in the NT for the remainder of their AIL period, providing they comply with all the relevant conditions of their licence.
Drivers in this situation should contact the authority which issued them the AIL licence and ensure that the granting of the exemption in the NT does not breach the conditions of their licence. If the relevant licensing authority cancels the licence while the driver is exempted from holding an NT licence, the exemption will no longer apply and the driver will be deemed to be unlicensed.
Compulsory Carriage of Driver Licence
To assist Police with traffic enforcement, from 9 April 2009 you must carry your drivers licence every time you drive.
If you fail to produce your licence you can be issued with a $50 on the spot infringement notice, or can be fined up to $2200
Further Information
Further information can be found in the AIL Information Bulletins or contacting the AIL Officer.
| Telephone | 1300 364 924 |
| Facsimile | (08) 8999 3117 |
| AIL@nt.gov.au | |
| Web | www.mvr.nt.gov.au |