Italy’s alcohol interlock programme moves to implementation phase

The Italian Ministry of Transport has published a list of authorised alcohol interlock devices and installation workshops on the government’s online motorist portal.

If a driver is caught with a Blood Alcohol Content exceeding 0.8 g/l, they face criminal charges, fines, and potential imprisonment.

Once a definitive conviction is reached, the offender is legally obligated to install an interlock device in any vehicle they operate.

The device must remain for two years for those in the 0.8 to 1.5 g/l bracket, increasing to three years for those exceeding 1.5 g/l.

Installation costs are estimated at approximately 2,000 Euro, which must be covered entirely by the offender. Beyond the initial fitment, users are responsible for the cost of mandatory annual calibration and disposable mouthpieces for every use.

This move aligns Italy with several other European nations using interlocks as a rehabilitative tool. The UK government recently announced plans to introduce the measure.