An interlock is an alcohol interlock device that controls whether a vehicle can start based on the test result of the driver's exhaled breath. Some devices, such as the AF-i1, measure the breath with a handset while a control box connected to the vehicle processes that result and the vehicle's operation. When the engine will not start or the vehicle needs to be moved, the fact that an interlock is installed becomes information needed to prepare for towing and repair, in addition to the usual fault details.
The first priority here is not finding a way to start the engine again. You need to reduce the risk at the spot where the vehicle stopped and connect on-site safety assistance, towing, and device and vehicle inspection to the right parties. If you report the fact that the vehicle was moved separately from the fact that a device or vehicle problem was resolved, the inspection after the move will not fall through the cracks.
Request safety assistance first, based on where the vehicle stopped
If the vehicle is in a parking lot or another safe stopping area, you can prepare for towing and inspection in order. But if it is in a traffic lane or on the shoulder, where there is a risk of collision with other vehicles, make sure occupants do not stay in the danger zone and request on-site safety assistance first. Checking the handset display or looking up device information can wait until safety is secured.
When you call for roadside assistance, describe the vehicle's location to the extent needed for the assistance, and report first whether there is a road hazard and whether occupants need help. Rather than naming a cause, it is more accurate to describe what actually happened in order, such as "This vehicle has an interlock installed. I tried to start the engine after the test, but it would not start." Which part of the device or vehicle is at fault can be determined in a later inspection.
Separate the information each contact needs
Tell the towing or roadside assistance desk that the vehicle has an interlock installed, what state the stopped vehicle is in, and where it needs to be moved. The responders need to know before handling the vehicle that a device is connected to it so they can prepare any technical consultation required. Do not include in your preparation any request to remove the device or touch the wiring and connections to fix the starting problem.
Tell the installer or vehicle repair contact the device model, what appeared on the display, when the problem occurred, and the action taken just before, as separate points. Whether the test itself never started, whether the test finished but the process stopped at the starting stage, or whether a separate alert was displayed are different observations. This helps define the inspection scope more than simply reporting the conclusion "the interlock is broken."
| Where to request support | What to report first | Why you request it |
|---|---|---|
| On-site safety assistance | Vehicle location, road hazards, whether occupants need help | To keep people and the vehicle safe in a hazardous section |
| Towing or roadside assistance desk | Interlock installed, state of the stopped vehicle, destination | To prepare the dispatch needed to move the vehicle |
| Installer or repair contact | Device model, display content, the stage where testing or starting stopped | To determine the inspection scope for the device and the vehicle |
| Vehicle manager | Where the vehicle was moved, who received it, remaining symptoms | To continue with the next inspection and vehicle assignment |
The contacts in the table handle the same problem in different ways. A technical inquiry about the product does not replace immediate safety assistance on the road, and a towing request does not mean the device inspection has also been completed. If you separate who handles what at each contact, you can reduce repeated explanations and missed inspections after the move.
In a hypothetical case, separate observations from assumptions
As a hypothetical example, suppose a driver completed the pre-start test in an underground parking garage and then tried to start the engine, but the vehicle would not move and the handset showed an unusual indication. The confirmed observations in this situation are only that "the engine did not start after the test," "there was an indication on the display," and "the vehicle is parked in an underground garage." Saying it is a device failure or a vehicle power problem is an interpretation that has not yet been confirmed.
Possible actions are to keep the vehicle safely parked, request towing or roadside assistance, and report that an interlock is installed, the device model, the display content, and the sequence from the test to the start attempt. Report the same sequence separately to the installer or repair contact to line up the inspection. In this case, preparation is complete not when someone has tried to start the engine through unauthorized manipulation, but when the destination for the vehicle and the person receiving it are set and the inspection contact has received the symptom information.
Separate moving the vehicle from solving the problem
If a tow truck has moved the vehicle to a repair shop or a designated location, the confirmed fact is that the vehicle was moved. The state of the interlock, the state of the vehicle's power or starting system, and whether it can be driven again can be determined after inspection. That is why it is better not to merge "towing complete" and "inspection results confirmed" into a single completed status in vehicle management notes or handover records.
When handing over the vehicle, record where it was moved, who received it, and what symptoms remained at the time of arrival. Also keep separate what the driver described, what the responders saw on site, and what the installer or repair contact confirmed through inspection. This prevents assumptions from being passed on as inspection results and reduces the time the next person needs to work out the vehicle's condition.
After the move, link device records and the inspection schedule
According to the official AF-i1 information, the device stores interlock usage data such as vehicle ACC and engine start, test results, and tampering-related events, and the dedicated software can manage and download the events. So when follow-up checks are needed, rather than settling the cause based only on memories from the scene or what you were told, you can set up a flow to review the relevant records according to your management procedures.
Where several people use the vehicle, you may consider keeping a short summary of the vehicle's location, the destination it was moved to, who received it, the remaining symptoms, and the information given to the installer or repair contact. The AF-i1 is also described as having inspection and calibration reminder features, so when the vehicle comes back, do not look only at whether it was towed; also check whether any device-related inspection is still pending. It is appropriate to set the time to reassign the vehicle not at the end of towing but when the required inspection results and vehicle management criteria have been confirmed.
