Ignition Interlock Device (SSI 20/20) that photographs subjects at time of test
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As Texas Police Departments throughout the state and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) continue the fight against drunk driving, a new advancement in an old technology may actually prove the most effective in combating repeat DWI offenders. Smart Start, Inc., one of the leading manufacturers in the Ignition Interlock industry, announced in mid-January their attainment of the exclusive rights to a patented technology tying photographs into their pre-existing ignition interlock system.
The new device, appropriately named SSI 20/20, will be released this spring. The upgrade also has new tamper detection capabilities preventing the user from placing tape over the lens as well as attempted disconnection of the camera.
The SSI 20/20 is mounted on the driver's side windshield, about halfway up from the dash board. The camera is connected to the hand-held portion and simultaneously takes a picture as the breath test subject taking the test. The test measures the Blood Alcohol Concentration of the subject, and the picture is stored in the interlock unit's logger with a time and date stamp.
Texas currently holds the statistic of most DWI fatalities in the nation. Smart Start, Inc. is hoping their technology will be a catalyst for changing this fact. Research has already shown interlock systems reduce repeat DWI offenses by a margin of 40 to 95 percent, and this new technology, once available, is expected to further reduce repeat offenders.
