Troubleshooting a Mississippi Ignition Interlock Device

We’ve all had those days when it seems like nothing is going right. You get into your car, ready to blow into your ignition interlock, and, BAM, your vehicle isn’t starting. You know you haven’t had a drop to drink, and that’s the only reason your device shouldn’t allow you to drive. You don’t have time to fail your interlock, you’ve got to get to work or to an important appointment. But, there you are, stuck sitting in the hot Mississippi sun, wondering what you’re supposed to do.

Troubleshooting your Mississippi ignition interlock shouldn’t be a difficult process. When you first had the device installed, you should have been trained in how to use it, including what the various lights, tones and displays on the device are telling you. So, stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and let’s try again.

• When you breathe into the device, are you using the correct hum or technique to produce your breath sample?
• Are there lights flashing that indicate you need to retest, or that the device is in a “lockout” mode?
• Have you missed a calibration or service appointment?
• Did you recently use mouthwash or another product that contains alcohol?

Many times, troubleshooting your Mississippi ignition interlock is a matter of going back through the entire process to determine where any errors may have occurred. The most important thing to remember is not to panic; when your device does not allow you to start your vehicle, you aren’t necessarily in violation of your requirement as long as you have not been drinking. If you still cannot figure out why the device isn’t working, your next step is calling your ignition interlock service provider. When it comes to troubleshooting a Mississippi ignition interlock, they’re the experts.