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Abstract:This technical report presents the results of laboratory testing of three models of commercially available in-vehicle alcohol test (IVAT) devices. These devices are designed to prevent persons with alcohol on their breath above a preset threshold from starting and driving a car. The models tested were: The Autosense, the Guardian Interlock and the Safety Interlock devices. Features of these devices designed to make them more difficult to circumvent were also evaluated. Our laboratory findings indicate that, except for one of the Guardian units, the IVAT devices tested consistently identified low as well as high BAC users (0.04% or above) who followed instructions. Because one of the two Guardian units indicated a much higher alcohol threshold, five additional Guardian units were tested for accuracy. The threshold for these units was found to be more in line with the 0.04% BAC level. Regarding the use of bogus breath samples as a circumvention strategy, none of the devices was totally successful in protecting against this circumvention strategy. However, the one unit with a temperature sensor, Safety Interlock, demonstrated that such a sensor, set at the appropriate temperature range, can make it more difficult to circumvent the device. Regarding the use of filtered air samples as a circumvention strategy, none of the devices was totally successful in protecting against this circumvention strategy. However, the Autosense device, with its higher pressure requirement, protected against one type of filtered air sample. The Guardian Interlock device, with its Controlled Breath Pulse Access (CBPA), is the only device which imposes a start-up requirement on its users. Our preliminary tests using a small sample of sober, volunteer subjects suggest that this strategy may be helpful in deterring or preventing a sober bystander from starting someone's car. In summary, even with special features designed to prevent circumvention, it can be concluded that a motivated individual, with preplanning and some knowledge, can fool the devices tested. However, it is inappropriate to generalize these results to all current or future units. Additionally, these data do not address how well these devices will perform under real-world field conditions. Other future field evaluation research projects will need to address these issues.
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