The Ignition Interlock Training, Outreach & Evaluation Program delivers statewide criminal‑justice training, public‑facing educational outreach, and resource development to improve the correct ordering, implementation, and monitoring of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) in Texas.
Benefits to Texas Transportation Safety
The ignition interlock project focused on training criminal justice stakeholders on this effective countermeasure against alcohol-impaired driving. Trainings were conducted county-by-county, allowing trainers to address unique local challenges, improve communication among stakeholders and tailor the curriculum based on findings from recidivism studies. Industry trainers also participated, fostering collaboration with ignition interlock providers and enabling stakeholders to address questions in real time. These trainings—often the first exposure participants have to this critical tool—equip them with the knowledge to effectively implement ignition interlocks and reduce impaired driving.
Project Need and Approach
Texas continues to experience high rates of impaired‑driving crashes, with more than 1,100 deaths in 2022. Although ignition interlock devices (IIDs) are a proven countermeasure, their use remains inconsistent across the state due to gaps in stakeholder awareness, ambiguity in statutory requirements, uneven monitoring practices, and varying approaches to handling indigent defendants. These challenges limit the effectiveness of IID laws and reduce opportunities to prevent recidivism among high‑risk DWI offenders.
To address these systemic issues, TTI implemented a multifaceted approach that included strategic planning, criminal‑justice training, indigent‑support resource development, targeted outreach, and continued professional learning. The project focused on improving stakeholder understanding of IID statutes, ordering and monitoring requirements, and best‑practice implementation strategies. Additionally, the project expanded IID awareness beyond criminal‑justice audiences through community‑based outreach and ensured curriculum accuracy by incorporating emerging research and national trends.
Through this integrated framework, the project strengthened statewide capacity to correctly order, implement, and monitor IIDs as a core impaired‑driving countermeasure.
Project Activities
2025
The project’s activities were carried out across five contract‑required components: development of a statewide strategic plan, delivery of ignition interlock trainings, creation of an indigent‑support best‑practices guide, participation in two outreach events, and attendance at a national impaired‑driving conference.
TTI delivered 24 IID trainings between May and September 2025 using both virtual and in‑person formats. Curriculum updates emphasized statute application, ordering and monitoring procedures, and interpretation of IID reports. Recruitment aligned with strategic plan priorities and reached stakeholders across targeted regions. The project also completed two outreach events through TxDOT district coalitions and developed an Indigent IID Best Practices Guide for dissemination to priority CSCD departments. Attendance at a national conference ensured curriculum and outreach materials remained consistent with national research and best practices.
2024
This project focused on training and educating criminal justice professionals to enhance the use of IIDs in Texas. Key activities included 19 IID training sessions across the state for prosecutors, judges and probation officers, reaching over 330 participants from 24 counties. The program also developed and updated curriculum packages to reflect recent legal changes and produced a technical memorandum summarizing these updates.
Outreach efforts included three public coalition meetings and participation in two impaired driving and IID conferences. These activities aimed to educate both criminal justice professionals and the public on the benefits of IIDs. Feedback collected from training sessions will guide future curriculum improvements.
The project’s ultimate goal was to improve the criminal justice system’s response to impaired driving by ensuring IIDs are properly ordered, monitored, and enforced. By doing so, the program seeks to reduce recidivism and alcohol-related crashes statewide.
Project Title: Texas Ignition Interlock Training, Outreach, and Evaluation Program
Project Start and End Dates: October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2025
Author List: Courtney Hrncir, Cinthya Fillips, Crystal O’Rear, and Cody Stewart
Sponsor/Funding Source: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)