Carbreathalyzerhelp.com photo A breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) is for those convicted repeatedly of alcohol-related driving offenses in Michigan.

HOUGHTON —  In Michigan, as well as several other states, people convicted multiple times for alcohol-related driving offenses must have a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) installed on any vehicle they intend to drive. Anyone with a restricted license that requires a BAIID must continue to drive with the device until the Secretary of State (SOS) authorizes him or her to remove it. But are they accurate?

A BAIID test can be failed for several reason, lifesafter.com states, including using an alcohol-based mouthwash, or “fermentation has turned a bit of fruit juice” in the person’s mouth to alcohol. Even the fermentation of yeast in bread or pizza dough could supply an alcohol molecule or two, could be enough to cause a fail. It might also be that the person drinking the night before, and there is some residual alcohol still in the person’s system, the website states.

Sergeant James Revoyr of the Michigan State Police Calumet Post said the devices are not so easy to confuse, but the best way to avoid an initial breath test failure is to wait a little while after you’ve used a mouthwash to use the BAIID.

“That’s why even with an initial breathalyzer test, we have to wait 15 minutes before we can test someone, to give that time for something like that to clear out of their mouth,” Revoyr said.

In fact, the Michigan Secretary of State website cautions that it is the driver’s responsibility to learn what things may effect the BAIID reading.

“A driver has 2 months after the BAIID is installed to become familiar with the device, and to learn that certain substances, such as mouth wash, may cause the device to record a test failure,” the website states.

“The (BAIID) is there to make sure that people who have had several drunk driving convictions, and this is the only way they can drive,” Revoyr said. “They can only drive their own vehicle, and only after the unit has been installed. They can’t drive somebody else’s vehicle.”

Those with the device installed cannot have someone else blow into the device before starting the vehicle, Revoyr said. Nor are they permitted to tamper with or circumvent the device in any way.

“We haven’t dealt with them too terribly much,” Revoyr said. “I haven’t heard of anyone violating one, but then I’m not here every day.”