In-Home Breathalyzers & Alcohol Monitoring Devices
Similar to an ignition interlock device, an in home alcohol monitoring device is a handheld unit that measures your breath alcohol content (BrAC) when you provide a breath sample by blowing into the device. Instead of being wired to the ignition of your vehicle like a car breathalyzer, a home monitoring unit is portable and is housed in a small case, similar in size to a briefcase.
Who Has to Do In-Home Alcohol Monitoring?
Judges may order you to complete in home alcohol monitoring or 24/7 sobriety programs (also called CAM - Continuous Alcohol Monitoring) as part of a probation sentence for several reasons, usually because you have a perceived alcohol problem due to a factor of your arrest, or a recurring history of alcohol issues. The goal is to demonstrate that you are able to maintain your sobriety.
Which States Order Home Alcohol Testing?
In several states, repeat drunk driving offenders might be ordered to complete home alcohol monitoring as a condition of avoiding jail time. For example, South Dakota implemented a 24/7 Sobriety Program for certain convictions. If you’re arrested for a second or subsequent DUI, you’re required to refrain from alcohol use as a condition of your bond and use a portable alcohol monitoring device to ensure you remain sober.
In Colorado, a judge may order you to refrain from drinking alcohol or risk going to jail if you have multiple DUI convictions and are perceived as having a serious drinking problem. Offenders in Washington state might also be able to avoid jail time with home alcohol monitoring. Texas DWI offenders may be court ordered to use an HMU (Home Monitoring Unit) if they don’t own their own vehicle, or have failed to comply with installing an ignition interlock device in their vehicle.
Which Legal Cases Include Alcohol Testing as a Probation Condition?
In addition to drunk driving convictions, the courts may order you to complete home alcohol monitoring in civil domestic, child custody or assault cases to enforce your sobriety. A judge may also order using a home alcohol monitoring device in criminal cases when the offender was intoxicated when they committed the crime or for people under 21 who commit crimes when intoxicated. This monitoring may require periodic alcohol breath testing on a predetermined schedule assigned by the court.
Intoxalock Home eLERT
The Intoxalock Home eLERT is an affordable device that can be used to comply with alcohol abstinence programs. The Home eLERT device can be used if you are court mandated to complete home alcohol monitoring or have an ignition interlock requirement but don’t have a vehicle.
The portable device is easy to use and features:
- Single-button activation
- Real-time reporting and flexible programming
- Camera
- LED screen that displays BrAC reading
- Durable, tamper-resistant design
- Remote technical assistance
- Reporting to a monitoring authority on a customizable schedule, includes live reporting
Customers choose the Intoxalock Home eLERT over other alcohol monitoring devices because of eLERT’s accuracy and lower cost than other home device brands. The built-in camera takes photos with a timestamp, which are uploaded wirelessly onto our secure servers and made available to monitoring authorities when required.
In some cases, a judge may order you to complete a sobriety program with a home alcohol monitoring unit and install an ignition interlock device to ensure you drive sober. Intoxalock offers both ignition interlock devices (IIDs) and home monitoring alcohol units (HMU).
If you need a price quote for an Intoxalock Home eLERT device or have any questions about HMUs , please call us at 833-623-0200.
