Ignition Interlock Information for Law Enforcement in Tennessee

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a strong supporter of All-Offender Ignition Interlock Laws because they save lives.  In fact, support of Ignition Interlocks is a key component of our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving which began in 2006.  We celebrated when Tennessee passed our own All-Offender Ignition Interlock Law in 2013 and again when a compliance-based component was added to strengthen this law in 2016.

 

To help officers who encounter drivers who have a device installed or who have been ordered to have one installed, we have gathered some information that may be helpful if a citation is needed for violation of this law.

The following TCA statutes may apply for violators:

 

TCA 55-10-409 & 55-50-504

 

It is a class A misdemeanor to:

 
  • Solicit another person to blow into their device to start their vehicle
  • To blow into a device for another person
  • Knowingly provide a vehicle to a person without an IID when required to have IID
    • First violation- forty-eight (48) hours of incarceration;
    • Second violation seventy-two (72) hours of incarceration;
    • Third and subsequent violation seven (7) consecutive days of incarceration;

It is a class B misdemeanor:

 
  • a person who drives a motor vehicle without a functioning ignition interlock device installed as required by law all be punished by confinement for not less than seven (7) days nor more than six (6) months, and there may be imposed, in addition, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
 

Does not result in suspension or revocation of license.

 

Additional information regarding Ignition Interlocks including a full list of providers in Tennessee can be found here.

 

This training video shows what a vehicle may look and sound like if it has failed a rolling retest and talks about extra steps you should take if you make a traffic stop and encounter a driver who should be using an ignition interlock device.