Ignition interlock in Maine
A Maine ignition interlock lets you start driving again sooner following an OUI, which is what Maine calls a drunk driving offense. You start by applying to the Secretary of State, wait for approval in writing, and then have a certified company put the device in your vehicle.
- Fee to apply
- $50
- Companies installing
- 4
- First OUI
- driving privileges restored once 30 days of a 150-day suspension have passed
- Before installation
- the Secretary of State must approve you in writing
- Discount for low incomes
- installer fees cut by half or more
- Agency in charge
- Maine Secretary of State
4 interlock companies in Maine
| Company | From, a month | Installation | 12 months, install included | Trustpilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 LifeSafer | From $50 | $70 to $150 | From $670 | 4.6 of 5 |
 Intoxalock | From $54.99 | Set by each service center | From $729.88install at MADD's typical range | 4.4 of 5 |
 Smart Start | From $59.99 | From $150 | From $869.88 | 4.6 of 5 |
 Alcohol Detection Systems (ADS) | Call for a quote | 2.4 of 5 | ||
Prices are each company's national starting price. The 12-month column adds a year of that price, the install price and any set-up fee, or MADD's typical $70 to $150 where no install price is posted.
MADD's national range: $70 to $150 to install, then $60 to $80 a month, or $790 to $1,110 for a year.
Getting your license back early
If you meet every other requirement for reinstatement and have an approved device put in your car, the Secretary of State can return your driving privileges. The state's rules are available here.
Installing a device is voluntary, and it's how you get your license back early. After a repeat OUI, an interlock is required to drive during the suspension. After a first one, your court order or license letter will say if you need one.
How soon can you drive again?
How long you must wait before getting back on the road depends on the number of OUI convictions on your record. These numbers come from the Secretary of State.
The waiting period grows with each OUI offense, and you must also meet the other reinstatement requirements.
Offenses from before September 1, 2008 may carry different suspension periods.
Applying to the Secretary of State
Do these in order. The state has to approve you in writing before any device goes in, so wait for that letter first.
- Submit a petition to the Secretary of State, a written request asking for permission to use an interlock while driving.
- Pay the $50 filing fee.
- Hold off until the Secretary of State approves you in writing.
- Pick an approved interlock company and schedule your installation.
Choosing an installer in Maine
After approval, you decide which company installs the device. The Secretary of State approves several providers, among them Alcohol Detection Systems, Intoxalock, LifeSafer, Sens-o-Lock of America, and Smart Start.
Once you have written approval, call us or fill out the booking form, and we'll connect you with a provider that serves your part of Maine and get your installation scheduled.
Interlock costs and the low-income discount
Plan on roughly $790 to $1,110 for a year with a device, covering installation and monthly charges, based on MADD's averages. Your final cost comes down to which provider you pick and the length of time the device stays in your car.
Maine law says certified installers must lower their combined fees by at least 50% for eligible drivers. You qualify if your household's adjusted gross income, the figure on your tax return after allowable deductions, falls at or beneath one and a half times the federal poverty line for a household your size. Those poverty figures are income caps the government sets each year based on how many people live in your home. If your household income is at or below that limit, bring up the reduced rate with your installer at the time you schedule, so the savings apply right away.
Rules for having the device in your car
You can't have someone else provide the breath sample or turn the ignition on in your place. Driving without it, or messing with the device, counts as a crime in Maine, and the punishment must contain a jail stay of 7 days or more plus a fine of $500 or more.
Violating interlock rules also triggers another suspension of your license. The new suspension lasts 1 year for a single OUI, 2 years for a second, and 4 years for a third.