Formal Safety and Product Liability Complaint Investigation
Re: Alcolock Ignition Interlock Device (AlCOLOCK, CANADA, ONTARIO)
Safety concerns and repeated failures associated with the ALCOLOCK ignition interlock device (COMPANY: ALCOLOCK, CANADA, ONTARIO) The device presents an unreasonable risk to drivers and the public and fails to operate as advertised or required for safe use.
The ALCOLOCK device requires drivers to provide breath samples while operating a moving vehicle. This design forces the driver to divert visual, cognitive, and physical attention away from the road in order to comply. The device also mandates “rolling retests” while driving, which significantly increase distraction and materially raise the risk of motor vehicle collisions.
Distracted driving is a leading cause of serious injury and death on Ontario roads and is a punishable offence under provincial law. Despite this, the interlock device requires handheld operation, visual monitoring, and controlled breathing while the vehicle is in motion. Functionally, this is equivalent to operating a handheld electronic device while driving, which is otherwise prohibited due to safety risks.
I have experienced a device malfunction on numerous occasions but in particular while driving on a busy highway during severe winter conditions with reduced visibility. The device prompted a rolling retest and repeatedly failed to accept valid breath samples, displaying the error code “INVALID SAMPLE 05.” Despite multiple attempts to comply while maintaining lane position and monitoring traffic, the device continued to malfunction.
The device then activated loud alarms inside and outside the vehicle, creating a severe distraction for both myself and surrounding drivers. I was forced to pull over immediately on the highway shoulder in hazardous conditions while vehicles passed at high speed. To silence the alarms, I shut off the vehicle and attempted to restart after powering down the device, replacing the mouthpiece, and waiting the required time. The device continued to fail.
As a result, I was stranded on the side of the highway in extreme cold temperatures (approximately −30°C), unable to restart my vehicle or access heat. I incurred towing and roadside assistance expenses and was placed in a situation that posed a serious risk to my safety.
This was not an isolated incident. If I recall correctly, I am currently on my fourth or fifth interlock device within a six-month period due to repeated failures. The device has proven unreliable, inconsistent, and unfit for continued use. The installation technician even acknowledged that the device does not function properly in cold temperatures, raising serious concerns about its suitability for Canadian climates.
The interlock device was installed under legal compulsion following a refusal charge. I have incurred hundreds of dollars in mandatory installation, maintenance, and replacement costs. Despite these expenses, the product does not perform as advertised and repeatedly fails under foreseeable and common environmental conditions.
In addition to safety risks, the device’s unreliability has caused measurable financial harm. I pay exactly $74.14 per month for a 12 month period, adding up to a grand total of $889.68 (And this doesn't even include installation) Why am I paying for a device that doesn't work? I have missed essential healthcare appointments due to device failures, resulting in approximately $250 in missed appointment fees. I routinely allow an additional 30–40 minutes to start my vehicle, anticipating the code "INVALID SAMPLE 05" multiple times and delays and failures continue to occur.
The design and operation of this device create foreseeable and preventable dangers. If serious injury or loss of life occurs as a result of these defects, the manufacturer should reasonably anticipate liability. I formally request that this complaint be investigated and that corrective action be taken immediately. Should injury occur to myself or others as a result of this product, I reserve all legal rights and remedies available to me.
This device requires immediate review, redesign, or removal from service. A product mandated for use in the interest of public safety must not itself create an unreasonable risk to drivers or the public.
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