Expanding the Victorian Alcohol Interlock program to all convicted drink-drivers

The Victorian Alcohol Interlock Program was established in 2003 and expanded in 2006. In 2014 the Victorian Parliament passed legislation to significantly extend the mandatory requirement for alcohol interlocks._x000D_
_x000D_This initiative came into force on 1 October 2014. All drink-drivers in Victoria whose driver licences or learner permits are cancelled must now fit an alcohol interlock to any vehicle they drive once relicensed._x000D_
Alcohol Interlocks are required for all:_x000D_
* Probationary and learner drink-drivers at all BAC levels;_x000D_
* First time drink-drivers with a BAC over 0.07;_x000D_
* First time drink-drivers with a BAC under 0.07 whose driver licences are cancelled;_x000D_
* All repeat drink-drivers;_x000D_
* Drivers committing offences such as refusing to provide a breath or blood sample, or culpable driving under the influence of alcohol._x000D_
The minimum cancellation period is three months and the minimum alcohol interlock condition six months._x000D_
VicRoads is now managing first-time drink-drivers whose driver licence or learner permit is cancelled and who record a BAC reading of less than 0.10. Courts continue to manage all other drink-drivers. As part of the changes, concrete criteria have been introduced for the removal of alcohol interlock conditions. Both VicRoads and the Courts will use these criteria. A new IT system supports the program._x000D_
This presentation outlines the policy decisions behind the new legislation and the challenges in implementing the expanded alcohol interlock program_x000D_