An alcohol ignition interlock device (IID) is a breath-test device that is connected to a vehicle’s ignition. A vehicle with an IID installed will not start unless the driver blows into the interlock and has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) below a limit set by the court—usually .02 BAC. IIDs must be installed by a certified technician approved by the state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV). The IID will collect data (engine starts and stops, breath test results, and tampering attempts) and report it to the monitoring company, which will report it to the court.

IIDs reduce repeat offenses for DUI/DWI by approximately 70% when installed. Laws vary from state to state and courts have significant discretion, but a judge may order a person convicted of a first DUI/DWI offense to install an IID and will order a person convicted of a second or third DUI/DWI to install an IID. Courts will often order an IID installed on the defendant’s vehicle as a condition of bond (to be released from jail) and of probation (following jail or prison time, or in lieu of any or more jail or prison time). The court may order the defendant’s IID to remain on the vehicle for 1-3 years or more.

Despite these laws and programs, only about one-fifth of those arrested for DUI/DWI have an IID installed.

In Nebraska, the use of an alcohol ignition interlock device (IID) is regulated under state law, particularly for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). Nebraska statutes require that any driver convicted of a DUI must have an IID installed in their vehicle as part of their sentence. This requirement applies to all offenders, including first-time offenders, although the specific duration for which the IID must be installed can vary based on the number of offenses and the discretion of the court. The device prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver's breath alcohol concentration (BAC) is above a preset limit, typically .02 BAC. Installation must be performed by a certified technician approved by Nebraska's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The IID records data such as engine starts and stops, breath test results, and any attempts at tampering, which is reported to the monitoring company and then to the court. The court may also require the installation of an IID as a condition for bond or probation. The goal of the IID program is to reduce repeat DUI offenses, and while effective, compliance rates are not as high as the law intends, with only a fraction of those arrested for DUI actually having the device installed.