When the laws went into effect in 2015, states with similar laws found using the devices lowered repeat offenses by two-thirds. Previously, judges could take away a driver’s license after a DUI conviction, but that didn’t actually keep them from driving or re-offending.
Of course, no law will prevent all repeat offenders. The Westerly Sun reports that a man was pulled over for drunk driving, and after failing a field sobriety test, officers discovered a disconnected ignition interlock device in his passenger seat. The driver, who was seen weaving across the center of the road multiple times by an off-duty officer, refused to submit to a chemical test and had to be assisted while standing. The ignition interlock device was court-ordered after a September 2016 DUI conviction. It was not immediately clear how he was able to disconnect the device from his vehicle.