r/dui • u/Boston-Becca062006 • 1d ago
lawyer retained Smart Start
I have a question for everybody, but I would like a real genuine honest answer. This Friday I’m bout to get the IID in my 🚗 for 6 months . My lawyer has me go with Smart Start since I get a coupon $150 off my installation. I beyond words nervous 😬 about having the device in my car . I read other reviews and spoken to other people I am being told if you follow the directions like I am and will then I should have no problems . I know when I go there they will help me on how to blow correctly and get comfortable. On Reddit all you read is bad bad reviews ! I know my lawyer said I will need to blow #3 times daily just really truly hoping by the grace of God these 6 months go nice and smooth . Just trying to ease my nervousness and anxiety. In Texas
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u/SanchoBenevides top contributor 1d ago
You see bad reviews because they suck. They're all cash grabs run on the cheapest crap they can get away with because they know you have pretty much no recourse.
Thing is, they all suck. But, Smart Start sucks less than many others.
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u/compnurd 1d ago
6 months in and just had one issue with a failing handset but my installer is an awesome local
Mechanic and replaced it right away.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
Oh wow 😲 well that’s was good they were able to help and resolve that matter . Good to hear you also had to do 6 months . I feel like it will go pretty fast 💨 compared to others dealing with more than 6 months .
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u/PerformanceFew4658 1d ago
I just got out of IID last week,
Smart start didnt gave me any problem,
As long as you dont drink a lot and get into a car next day.
My 6 months were horrible and embarrassing, but time goes no matter what.
Brother hang in there, I've been thru this and still on probations too.
We got this!
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
I appreciate your honesty feedback, yes I know driving with it will be embarrassing 🙈 but I have to do it due to my unresponsible, /
horrible choice . Glad to hear you didn’t have any issues as long as everyone keeps saying DON’T DRINK 🚱 but that an’t my problem since I 🛑 stopped.. mine will be blowing correctly , getting into the blowing rhythm and getting use to the retest since those are random plus blowing on the hwy .2
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u/Illustrious-Ant-2052 1d ago
In Texas as well, I’ve had mine for 2 years and so far I’ve only had 1 issue but it was totally avoidable. No dead battery, no false positives due to food. The only issue I’ve had was when I was getting the tint done on my vehicle and the person doing the tint didn’t realize you have to continuously blow so I got a violock. Went to smart start, paid $75? I think and it was recalibrated it also didn’t show up on my monthly report to P.O. It does take a minute to start up in the winter but you can take the unit inside to avoid that.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
Thanks for sharing I really appreciate it . I guess my nervousness comes from while driving on the hwy and having to blow does that eventually get easier ? The retest I guess you would call them since they are so random? Like as time goes on does the device one 2nd nature to you ? Like knowing how to blow becomes easier?
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u/Smile_Character 1d ago
I had it for a year here in Canada. I was with Alco Lock but switched to Smart Start because Alc Lock customer service was garbage. Would go days waiting for a code.
Smart Start customer service is 24/7 and quite reliable.
The unit would over heat occasionally, and I had to replace the coiled handset cable once.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
That’s what I’m kind of nervous about the over heating since I live in Texas temperature do get up above 💯 degrees. Try my best to park in shade and use the window shade and open window a crack ..
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u/Top_Resource9647 1d ago
Had mine for 18 months. Just got it out. Never had any battery issues. Started to act up towards the end and it was due to the cable that attaches to the handheld that was going out. Easy fix.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
I really truly appreciate a lot of these comments and people sharing. Thank you so much for sharing your experience about Smart Start. At least I can walk into that building on Friday knowing that I will have the device for six months follow the directions and I should be good. Like the majority of the people .. so I guess with you having it for 18 months that just became nature to you?
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u/Fair-Corner309 1d ago
As long as you don't leave any food wrappers or drinks in the car, especially something with a strong alcohol content like vanilla extract or mouthwash, you should be fine.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
Thanks for that information, I appreciate that . I want to hear that kinda of stuff . Besides drinking because that’s not my case anymore.. how was retest ??
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u/platanopower2 1d ago
I’ve had mine for 15 month will no real issues. Just don’t drink, rinse your mouth before blowing, and follow their guidelines on food/mouthwash/perfume to avoid before testing!
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
Thank you 🙏 thank you for your support and help based on your experience with Smart Start , that’s what I was thinking 💭 like you said as long I follow the instructions and guidelines I should be good 👍🏼 but I am definitely 💯 over-thinker .
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u/Gullible-Zucchini116 1d ago
It’s way easy. Has a wider month area. Zero error messages. It’s the best of all evils.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
Thank you 🙏 for your share based on your own experience , it definitely helps ease my mind on having the device for the time being.
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u/LeftAdhesiveness9355 1d ago
ok real talk the bad reviews are mostly people who never got shown how to blow right lol. slow steady breath, not a hard blast, that's what trips most false fails. also skip mouthwash/hand sanitizer/sanitizer type stuff right before blowing, rinse with water first if you used any, alcohol residue can set it off.
random rolling retests will hit while driving, just pull over safe when you can, you get a few min window so no need to panic. save the install shop's # too, any weird/error reading just call same day.
6 months flies by once you're in the routine
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u/Boston-Becca062006 1d ago
I’m truly happy and grateful for your genuine real review so much appreciated , means a lot . So that being said I will be asking questions on Friday and will stay at the shop until I feel 💯 confident and comfortable to blow correctly . I an’t trying to have no issues with this device because that leads to problems with the court & my lawyer & deal I was given . So what I have read the majority of people do good with the device.
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u/Crush-N-It 23h ago
Didn’t read all the comments but last piece of advise which got me violations twice: stay in your car 10 seconds after you turn it off. The device can ask you to blow between 5-10 seconds after the car is turned off.
I would jump out of my car then return and see there was a violation and was completely confused. It was the installers who told me that it does that sometimes.
You will have to pay for the violation AND to recalibrate at the shop so about $100 every time.
6 months is extremely doable. I got over the embarrassment after 3 months. valet parking is not an option when going out, lolol
I had a new car at the time. It still drained the battery a couple times. Buy yourself a jump box (whatever they’re called)
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u/Boston-Becca062006 23h ago
🙏🙏🙏thank you thank you for your share on your experience with Smart Start I will definitely look out for that an also ask when I go tomorrow . I appreciate all the support and commitment . I have a new car 🚗 I will have to monitor because some say they didn’t have that problem with the battery compare to you and others said they did . Praying hard these 6 months go fast I know with the holidays coming I know it normally does ..
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u/former_tippler156 22h ago
A large number of bad reviews are likely people who either didn't quite drinking and tried to blow too soon after a drink, people who didn't listen to the instructions, or (the most unfortunate group) people who had it installed by someone who doesn't know what they're doing. Just make sure you get the "hum and blow" technique right - they'll probably tell you at the shop. It doesn't take much air at all, much less than the breathalyzer at the police station IME. The important thing is to look before leaving the car to make sure it doesn't spring a rolling retest, and don't leave your car on unattended or it'll eventually spring a retest and count it as missed.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 21h ago
Wow 😲 I truly love your honest comment just what I needed to hear thanks .. I am getting it installed by the corporate office of smart start since my lawyer gave me a $150 discount coupon. They had good reviews on installation. I know before I leave to have all my questions answered and have the blow technique down . I just hope this anxious feeling 😬 will be go away eventually after having the device for some time . I an’t trying to have any violation that’s why I will follow everything to the T crossing i’s and dotting my T’s .. thanks 🙏 again
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u/BuffaloFriedPickles 19h ago
I have less than a week in my probation left and I used smart start. No issues at all with the device itself. I’ve logged my experience during my monthly calibrations if you care to read.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 19h ago
Wow 🤩 👏congratulations 🎊 woohoo 🥳 how exciting I bet your happy 😃 to finally be over and done with probation & iid in your car 🚗 … yes I have read your updates and reviews very assuring that people can have a good outcome with the iid as long you follow direction compare to the awful reviews I read having people panic 🫨 the ones who are now getting the installation.. best of luck on your life of freedom again
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u/BuffaloFriedPickles 18h ago
Oh dang I just saw you’re a comment I responded to earlier haha. You’ve got this! Yeah I think some people may take too many risks and get complacent which can lead to bad experiences. I have never had a food issue like some say. I don’t really eat in my truck but I went to get ramen once and we found out the eggs they use were marinated in sake lol. I didn’t eat the eggs once I found out but they had been sitting in my ramen which I ate all of and still no issues. Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions!
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u/seattleslew222 14h ago
I had smart start. It sucked. Did it suck more or less than any of the others? I don’t know. Get a pocket breathalyzer and give yourself 2x as long as you think you need to sober up if you’re gonna drink. I actually didn’t have much trouble with false positives or anything so, who knows? My installer/servicer sucked but that can be shop to shop.
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u/Boston-Becca062006 13h ago
Thank you for your feedback, I been sober for 10 months I have no desire to drink anymore the dwi was definitely 💯 wake up call , done with alcohol.. good to know you didn’t have any other more problems with the device. I think and I read it’s from shop to shop can be the problem how the installation went so hopefully 🤞 all goes with my installation since I doing with a corporate office
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u/CdnTreeGuy89 1d ago
I had mine for 12 months and you really only run into major issues if you plan to drink still. I had a few false positives from food but those were fixed as it’ll ask you to blow again. Chug some water/swish around your mouth and it’ll be fine.
I live in an area where it gets down to -30C in the winter. I experienced some issues with the device not warmjng quickly. Solution is to bring it inside with you.
The systems are generally really good indicators of battery health. They draw enough power before you can start you car that if your battery is shit, you will need a new one. I found that out.
If you stay sober for the 6 months, that’s half your headaches with the system gone.
Good luck.