A motorist convicted of driving while impaired a few years ago deplores the constraints imposed on him by his breathalyzer and the fines he must pay due to the operation of the device.
Gilles Bélanger, who claims to have been caught driving after drinking only once, maintains that he does not hear the signal from his breathalyzer, which means that he receives a fine each time, even though he is sober.
“If you don’t hear the beep like me, […] two or three times, it costs you $160 in fines,” he explained in an interview on Mario Dumont’s show on QUB radio and TV, broadcast simultaneously on 99.5 FM in Montreal.
Due to his conviction, Mr. Bélanger must blow into the breathalyzer installed in his vehicle to be able to start it.
Randomly, the device may start to sound when it is moving, and when this is the case, the driver must blow into the breathalyzer.
“If you don’t hear it, the horn goes off, you have to pull over to the side, you have to turn off the engine for five minutes. Then, you start again, you leave again, but you took a failed test,” explains Gilles Bélanger.
No more music and windows down!
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The issue that the motorist denounces is that the sound telling him that he must blow into the device is not loud enough. On a few occasions he did not hear it and therefore had to pay the fine of $160 each time.
“The day before yesterday, there was a blizzard in the Terrebonne area. I went to Costco to place my order. I failed the test two more times. I didn’t hear it,” he says.
The volume of the device can be covered by wind, rain or even music.
“Windows open, it’s over. You have to have air conditioning in your car, because [sinon] you’re done! With the noise outside, forget it! Music is over, music is over. I have been paying this since February 2022. I don’t listen to music anymore in my life. I kind of boycotted it! » he says.
Breathing problems
The other element that bothers Mr. Bélanger is that he sometimes has difficulty blowing adequately into the breathalyzer, even if he has not taken alcohol.
“If you don’t blow hard enough, test failed.” If you blow too hard, you fail the test. If you don’t blow long enough, you fail the test,” he laments.
The latter also claims to suffer from a respiratory illness which affects his ability to breathe properly into the device.
“When it’s -10, I can’t take my car. I am not able to breathe properly in the matter,” he relates.
“People don’t dare to complain”
Gilles Bélanger claims to have spoken to other motorists in the same situation as him who have experienced similar issues with their breathalyzer.
“They don’t have the guts to complain. I made a complaint to the SAAQ,” says the motorist.
“I asked them: have you already heard the beep since you are the one hiring the Smart Start company? They all told me no, the SAAQ world,” he adds.
According to the latter, the device is not well suited to its users and it is the responsibility of the SAAQ to correct the situation.
“There’s a reason why the beep isn’t loud: they’re poking everyone. Then people, they don’t dare to complain, because we are basically at fault, we must not deceive ourselves. We are guilty of having made a mistake. […] This makes people so guilty that they don’t dare say anything, they accept the costs and then they pay,” laments Gilles Bélanger.
SAAQ reaction
The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) claims to have carried out the necessary tests to ensure that the device met the needs indicated in the call for tenders.
“The tests were conclusive, particularly with regard to the sound signal,” a SAAQ spokesperson told the QMI Agency.
The latter adds that the Smart Start supplier offers the possibility of installing a device allowing a light signal to be added, in addition to the sound signal.
The fee of $25 plus taxes for this addition must be paid by the motorist.
“At any time, if a customer has a problem with their device, they are supported by the Company and we intervene. He can also contact the Smart Start supplier or consult the Quebec Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program – SAAQ page on our website,” says the SAAQ.
To see the full interview, watch the video above
