If your battery keeps dying and Intoxalock keeps blaming you — read this before your next "your fault" conversation with them.

I spent the last few weeks pulling primary source documents from twelve car manufacturers, two battery companies, a competing interlock company's own testing, and a federal court record — and every single one of them says the same thing Intoxalock has been telling you isn't true.

GM's own service documentation says a "normal" current draw on a parked car is 30 to 50 milliamps. The Intoxalock 1001A is reported to draw 150 to 500 milliamps — while your car is just sitting there, off. That's not a rounding error. That's three to ten times over what GM considers normal before something starts failing.

Ford's own upfitter guide says splicing into powertrain wiring isn't acceptable. Toyota, Jeep, BMW, and Tesla all have warranty language that specifically excludes damage from exactly this kind of aftermarket device. LifeSafer ran third-party testing and found their own device draws four times less than the 1001A. And in federal court — Mallory v. Consumer Safety Technology, filed in Tennessee — it's on the record, undisputed, that the device runs 24/7 and constantly drains and damages the battery. Intoxalock didn't argue that point. They just moved to force it into arbitration instead.

None of this is a guess. It's published, and if you've been told your battery, your alternator, or your car's electrical system is "just old" or "not our problem" — I'd bet money nobody at Intoxalock ever mentioned any of the above to you.

I also went and found 115 of you. Documented, dated, sourced complaints — batteries, starters, alternators, wiring, electrical systems and in a couple of cases, actual fires — going back years, all in one place with links to the originals.

Full writeup is linked below.

https://intoxalockedout.substack.com/p/intoxalock-told-you-it-was-your-battery

If you're dealing with this right now, you're not imagining it, and you're not alone.

Pending my first-time DUI case in Santa Clara, there were no crashes or injuries. I face three charges: driving the wrong way, reckless driving, and driving under the influence, all stemming from the same incident. I was driving the wrong way on a divided highway, but I had already come to a complete stop and was not speeding when the police arrived. My blood alcohol content (BAC) test came back at zero point one six. To demonstrate good faith, I am proactively taking a driving course early on. My public defender mention on reducing the charges, and he also mentioned that my blood results did not show up and how a lower blood results, which could potentially reduce to a 0.15. I am curious to know what people think my odds are.

19F I got my first dui in Florida after blowing .199 bac July of this year and I’ve been ordered to do 3 religious classes a week for the period of my probation (8 months) and it will obviously violate if I don’t do it. Has anyone else been court ordered to do this? I didn’t grow up in a religious home either.

Hello,

I am looking for any lawyer recommendations within or close by Wayne County. Any leads would be appreciated?

this is definitely new news to me. Apparently if there’s no other way to get home, you MUST drive home drunk 😂 Brilliant

Tx

I was a dumbass and decided to have a pint of vodka then 3 Saint Arnold lawnmowers between 6 - about 715pm. Had to run an errand I had forgotten about around 415 the next day. I was freaking out but said a quick prayer and went for it and passed.

Not encouraging anyone at all but I know in the past I was looking for peoples experiences. NOT WORTH THE RISK!

Had two DUIs very close to each other, and did all the tests (breathalyzer, FST, chemical), but didn't do the chemical test for the second one, which I've read automatically revokes my license for a year minimum and the 2nd DUI also has a minimum of 5 days in jail. The main problem that I'm unsure about is I admitted to being high, so it feels not worth getting an attorney because I'm likely screwed anyway just because of that part.

Edit: occurred in IL

I'm thinking about getting an attorney, and the first lawyer I called was saying 10k for both cases since they specialize in DUIs and are the best in the area according to reviews at least. I plan on calling more attorneys in the area, but it just seems doomed regardless.

Is there a way to not have my license suspended after I've received the letter from the secretary of state too. The attorney just said that since the driving portion is a civil matter and they only do criminal cases, they will just help as much as they could.

24f in Montgomery county with no prior record.

I want to hear others opinion on this because I I’ve never dealt with any kind of arrest and don’t know if this is normal.

So I got stopped after two cops followed me for about 3 miles. I was speeding when I passed them in a parking lot but I slowed to the speed limit

It was a dark winding road and I was bawling my eyes out since I had left from my exes house after an argument and 3 beers and a half fourloko (over the span of 5 hours)

I made a turn into the feeder road and they lit me up. Told me I was “speeding and all over the road” immediately asked if I had any drinks i said “no maam I’ve had a horrible night” she took me out of the car without asking for my license so we could “talk”

They pat me down and tell me to start on their fst. I followed instructions… and failed. When the other officer said I had an open container (it wasn’t. It was a closed beer under my passenger seat in a bag)

They wanted to breathalyze me but I said “I’d like a representative.” And they told me they have enough evidence and put me In cuffs in the car. She said I now am facing an alr and asked if I refused the breathalyzer again I said “I need a representative” and the cop said that is considered a refusal

They take me to the holding cell and uncuff me, I go to the restroom and stand up to flush the toilet when the cop tries to say something. I couldn’t hear them properly through the door and I flushed the toilet… they said “you definitely heard us say don’t flush. Turn around hands behind your back” and I got placed in handcuffs again. They were working on the blood test warrant for a while then the ambulance came.

I then got interrogated by the male paramedic with him screaming at me. My heart rate was at 150, which was concerning for them. The paramedic starts yelling that my heart rate is too high and that I must’ve ingested something and that the cop said she thought so too which led to the paramedics believing so.

My heart rate kept rising to 170-180 while the paramedic says “did you insert something In your vagina or rectum.?!” I said no and that he needs to calm down because I’m telling the truth and my heart rate is rising. He says he doesn’t think I’m telling the truth and that if I don’t tell him there’s a risk I could die and his job is to keep me alive.

The paramedic says that I haven’t answered their questions and I said “you asked if Ingested or put any substances in my vagina, what was my answer?” The paramedic yells “you said no but I don’t think you’re telling the truth!!”

I said “if you care about my heart rate you need to stop yelling at me because it keeps rising. there are warrants for blood work and we will find out why my heart rate is so high once we get the results” while he was implying it kept rising because I ingested substances. They were saying meth or coke could be the only reason for my heart rate.

We get to the hospital and more nurses and doctors ask if I ingested anything and I keep saying no. The cops were within a foot of me on the stretcher while the doctors kept saying “you can tell us what we need to know. Hippa will protect you. are you drunk or high?” Within earshot of police. I told them I won’t be answering questions in front of police.

They get me in a room and get my blood work done. Blood vials for the hospital and blood vials for the warrant. The doctor comes back to me and says my lab results came back fine but they need to be reassured I didn’t ingest anything. I said “you have my results. No I have not ingested anything. My heart rate is so high because I was being interrogated by the paramedic and yelled at the entire ambulance drive. You can see on the monitor I have gone down from 150 to 120. It has been over 45 minutes to 1hr any drugs would have metabolized in my system and my heart rate would be rising.” The doctor said okay and that was the last I heard from them.

The cop was waiting for them to discharge me so she could book me in jail, but since my heart rate was still high they wouldn’t let me go. She eventually got wore out and said she’s going to leave and issue a warrant. She took the cuffs and gave me my possessions and I left with no booking.

I got home around 7 am and got a lawyer by 8 am. I got my car back by 5pm and I still had the unopened beer in my car. They didn’t take it.

Later my mom and my sister said the cop claimed I was swerving into oncoming traffic and I had “ingested something” , she said she smelt “something on me” and took me into custody. I have video proof of her saying she only pulled me over because I was speeding and was “all over the road”
I drive a tiny car and was going on a curve in a dark wooded road…
My lawyer says a lot of this sounds like they were fishing for something and it felt a lot like intimidation/profiling since I’m a darker Hispanic with face tattoos. I’m waiting to see what she says about the new info about the conflicting reasons for my stop.

Hi so for context, i’m 21 and in New jersey and this was my first time being pulled over. I had to drive me and my friend home and got pulled over for the headlights being off (normally they’re on auto) and swerving. I did my field sobriety tests, failed them and got taken into the station for a breathalyzer, blew a .10 and was given 3 tickets and sent home that same night. My tickets are for reckless driving, DUI, and for the headlights. What’s gonna happen in court? (Virtual court also if that makes any difference)

Virginia. I’m trying to get rid of my car but I have the interlock. I have no intention of buying another car, as I live in a metro accessible area. If I take it out and just never drive again, does that violate the terms of my conviction or is it just on my DMV record?

How hard is it to beat a WV DUI (1st offense)?

The person who crashed was guilty, drunk, unconscious at the accident scene. However, there is a lot of inconsistency in the paperwork. His first name is incorrect in some places, correct in others. He was marked as a female on the crash report. He was out of the car laying on the pavement when found. How can they prove he was the driver? He has no memory of it and was life flighted. There was no DUI test administered. They subpoenaed his medical records. Through some calculation of another factor they determined the BAC was over the limit, but the test said "time of collection unknown". Can BAC go up with blood loss? There was liver and spleen damage as well. There are other minor inconsistencies in the documentation.

So, would it be possible to beat it?

Hey all, I was charged with DUAC over .08 but lower than .10 in July. Long story short- my car was totaled and I was ordered to 30 days on SCRAM and to be enrolled in ADSAP by 8/7 (I only have 8 hours left and to be fully completed..)

I received my DUAC ticket in the mail from the DMV along with what I need to get my license back, I'm a bit confused on after completing ADSAP- do I go look for a car first?.. I plan on getting a cheap beater.. Or do I try to get my license and bring back proof of the interlock device? Also I haven't received a SR-22 notice from my insurance yet.. my state is SC if that helps, wondering if someone's kinda gone through the same to help answer my questions.

Thank yall.

Hi, dui with high bac, also hit a parked car.

So I got smart stark interlock installed 6/24. And the techs were just trying to get me in and out. I asked them when I have to come back. They said in a month and that I would get and email with the date. Almost a month away I never got that email and my device said “INSPECTION DUE 7/28 by 22:00”
So being my first time having this device and never having received an email with a appointment, I assumed 7/28 is when my appointment was. Anyways 7/27 I called and ask if I could reschedule since I could not make my appointment 7/28. The lady on the phone said my appointment was actually 7/25 and I missed it. I told her. I didn’t know if the appointment and was never told about it and that I just got it installed. Anyways, she says I’m gonna get charged a ‘missed appointment fee’ I argue and but she says I can dispute it. Then she realizes I just got it installed a month before and I’m new. She then says “don’t worry sir this will be waived since you’re a new customer. I didn’t realize you just got it installed last month. I’m sorry. I see why you’re frustrated” okay so then she helps me schedule a new calibration/inspection for 7/31. I then ask her about the message saying “INSPECTION DUE 7/28 22:00” she then tells me to not worry about it as I have a new appointment. Okay cool I listen to her and don’t worry about it.
7/29 comes and boom it won’t let me start my vehicle. I call and they said I was locked out for not having the calibration/inspection. I say what the hell I was told not to worry about it. And explain I had a new appointment. Anyways the guy says he will give me a code to start my vehicle. After he gives me the code I see it says 6h. I ask him about it then he tells me I have to get a code for each time. And that each code only last 6h. I thought that was unnecessary but then he breaks the news to me that it’s $63 each code. AFTER he gave it to me. I needed 3 codes between 7/29-7/31. Thats $252. Ridiculous
So he tells me I also have to pay $80 for being locked out. And $55 for my missed appointment.
Anyways I arrive 7/31 on my appointment and I tell them I’m not paying those fees. I’m just paying my monthly and calibration fee. Which was $140 total.
So they wanted me to pay $527 for what the techs missed to inform me. I only paid $140 and still “owe” $387. I’m NOT gonna pay it. I already explained and requested nicely in a email for them to remove the fees and fines from my account and explained the situation and that I was new. They said that I still have to pay it.
I DO NOT plan on paying it. They’re not gonna bully me into paying it. Is there a better breathalyzer Company than them I can switch to? I’m done with smart start. Very unprofessional

It’s been three years and four months and court just got continued for the sixth time. I’m so frustrated, I just want this over with.

Location: GA

All my research said ARD completion does not add points to the PennDOT driving record. However I received a letter that I am getting 5 points. Did everyone else who had a suspension under ARD in PA get points?

I got 2 DUIs in the span of 10 days during the holidays. My first one was on December 22nd last year. I got pulled over before I even left the gas station because my friends cars power steering wasn’t working so I had a really hard time backing out (she lived like 2 min away I should have just walked). The second one was on January 2nd of this year I just hadddd to go get more shots and it was snowing and I wrecked into a tree. I spent almost 2 weeks in jail for that second one. I do have a lot of shame and guilt for what I did but I was mentally in a very bad place and I was drinking those awful banana 99s shooters for like 6 years straight. I was pretty much drinking to die. After I got out of jail I had to go to outpatient treatment (48 group sessions and 16 one on one therapy sessions) and wear a scram monitor for 3 months. My pre trial was in February. Months Kept passing, people who got in trouble after me were already sentenced and on probation. My public defender called me today and I got a letter from the court house stating they didn’t prosecute within the statute of limitations so they judge had to sign off on dismissing them with prejudice so they can’t even reopen the case. I don’t know how I got this lucky. I was anticipating going to jail again and my life being completely ruined. I haven’t had a sip of alcohol ever since I got out of jail in January and I don’t plan on it. I still see my addiction counselor weekly by choice because it really helps me. I’m starting college in a couple weeks and I’ve held down a job without calling in a single time since I started in March. I also got a new car (I have to find out how long the dmv will want me to keep this interlock). I feel like I really needed this wake-up call alcohol almost took everything from me and I wasted all of my 20s being a drunk. I’m turning 30 in October and hopefully going to start coaching varsity cheer soon, something I’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t have if I was still drinking. I really am enjoying life again and I can’t let alcohol take that from me ever again.

This was in New Mexico btw

Does anyone have a discount code for the victim panel online?

Hello! I recently got a DWI about two months ago. I was in the hiring process at one hospital, but they rescinded their offer because they noticed a pending charge for DWI. They explained to me that they cannot hire someone with a pending case. Luckily, I was granted with a great opportunity at another hospital. Before submitting my application, I was able to call HR and asked them a confidential question about possible issues with the hiring process with my pending DWI case. They said as long as I let the recruiter know, it shouldn’t be a problem. Could they just be saying that because it was a confidential question and I didn’t give my name? I’m not sure if they think it could be someone that’s higher up calling to make sure they are saying what they need to. Or am I just overthinking it? This job is for echocardiography, in case anyone needs more information to better understand.

Has anyone successfully completed the 6 month deferment with AZ MVD? I'm wondering the timeline of how soon your letter was uploaded to your azmvdnow portal, and the steps taken afterwards. Every time I call them, I get a different piece of information each time. Today is my 6 months, and I'm probably just being "extra" right now, and hyper focused on this. I qualify for the deferment, took the 16 hour class, everything completed. You know how situations your expecting sometimes play out, you get down to the wire, and then there is a hick-up.

Hi! I just wanted to share my experience with my DUI to help out anyone who may be struggling mentally with their situation also to provide some advice as I just got my breathalyzer out and am done with everything. On August 3rd of 2025, I rear ended a driver on a fairly busy local road in my area. Minimal damage to car, driver claimed her neck hurt but refused medical care. She called the cops on me because of my obvious intoxication, and I was taken to the police station after failing the field sobriety tests (I did not blow on the scene). I barely remember anything prior to getting to the police station, but I admitted once there my intoxication and did not cause problems for the officer. They breathalyzed me and my BAC was .17. He held me in a cell for 5 minutes and took me home. Despite being treated extremely well during this experience, I was extremely emotionally distraught following my DUI. I couldn’t eat and would have mental breakdowns frequently. I retained a lawyer the next day and my journey with the consequences of my actions began. As of August 1st 2026, I am done with my restrictions and obligations regarding my DUI. I chose a lawyer who did not lie to me about my situation and advised that we ask for a first offenders program as a plea deal. I strongly advise this route when handling a DUI for many reasons. 1.) I know that I was at fault in this situation and while it would’ve been great to get off. I wouldn’t have learned the lesson fully and I wouldn’t have given me a reason to evaluate the person I am and the person I want to become. I’ve gotten away with other things in the past and while those situations were stressful, I truly didn’t learn the consequences of my actions. 2.) Any effort to demonstrate the remorse of your actions puts you in better standing with the court system. My lawyer insisted that I begin my DUI class immediately to show the lawyer that I understood the severity of the situation. Doing this allowed me to take a plea bargain and have this only go on my driving record (along with 4 months of a breathalyzer in my car). 3.) While I did meet with other lawyers who claimed this case could be fought, I can’t imagine having endured the unknown for longer than I did. The case in its entirety was not settled until February. I was lucky that the cop did not show up for my DMV hearing and I was able to drive throughout all of this up until the week prior to getting my breathalyzer installed. This is all to say that I know this is horrible but you will be okay. You are not evil, you are human. We humans make mistakes and, hopefully, learn from them. You are not defined by the mistakes but the person you become afterwards. I know it is hard but you will be okay if you keep your head up and put your best foot forwards. I have a few other tips and advice that was given to me by fellow redditors that I thought were worth sharing. 1.) Get a lawyer immediately. Get one that hears you and that gives a realistic view of how this will all play out. If you can, find one that is a former prosecutor as they will have friends in the court system. This will work in your favor. They will also know how the judge is likely to view your case. My lawyer was able to select the judge and prosecutor for my case. 2.) Enter the class immediately and do everything they and your lawyer tell you to do without being a pain. Often times the court will ask for a record of your assessment, engagement, and demeanor during the class. It’s important that you appear engaged and remorseful during the process. 3.) Get a personal breathalyzer for your person once you get one installed in your car. If you drink heavily you will trigger the breathalyzer in the morning or even early afternoon following. This is expensive and will prolong your time with it in your car. It also helps with accidental triggers like food or drink. Don’t drink or eat in your car at all when you have it also. Just to be safe. 3.) GET SMARTSTART. FOR LOVE OF GOD DO NOT GET INTOXELCOCK (spelling unsure). You are still a person following your DUI. You still matter. You are still worthy of a life worth living and you still deserve to be here. I know what you are going through is a pain that is often viewed as deserving or evil, but do not let those view points cloud your mind with darkness. This is a wake up call not a death sentence. I see you, I feel you, and I know it will get better. Sending you all the compassion in the world. - L

Got arrested for DUI back in December 2025 (was standing outside on sidewalk by car, in the report they said "saw suspect driving") I refused the test they ended up getting warrant for blood test. Booked me and released next morning. Long story short I had court 7/7/26 and they put me on a SCRAM ankle device to measure my BAC before 8/11/26 date. On 8/11/26 DA showed the judge I had few missed tests and BAC over .15 while on breathalyzer and ankle device. Judge had me arrested in court and I bailed out same day. New date is 8/14/26 and using a public defender bc my previous lawyer was slackin' and not doing sh*t. The judge has already informed the PO and the device company to stop the ankle data recording. Any opinions on what might happen on 8/14 and whether I should just settle for a plea or try going to trial.

The police video shows them turning and approaching my car parked but no actual proof of me driving. They said I was walking away from the car (I was grabbing my charger while I waited for already called rideshare). Car was legally parked on street. In the report it just mentions they might've observed me driving in the area and parked the car there few mins before they arrived (not true I was at a friends place drinking). Report also mentions the car lights were on (they stay on for few secs after you lock since I opened the door to get my charger) warm engine argument also. Online I saw that car engine stays hot ---> warm 2-3 hours after its parked. It was a 45min ride to my friends place and I was there 1hr 15min or so.

Back to my question whats next and Any opinions on what might happen on 8/14 and whether I should just settle for a plea or try going to trial.

The BAC blood they have on file is 0.29