Smart Start, Inc.

Smart Start, Inc. is a Texas company that provides services and technologies that prevent intoxicated drivers from operating a vehicle. Smart Start, Inc. manufactures, installs, monitors and services the ignition interlock devices. In almost all cases, these devices are installed by court order due to DUI or DWI violations.

Smart Start, Inc. was founded in 1993 by Jay and Bettye Rodgers and is headquartered in Irving, Texas. Smart Start's current CEO is Matt Strausz.

Smart Start has both corporate-owned and franchise locations in 44 states and has recently expanded to Australia, Sweden and Canada.

Smart Start has installed over 200,000 ignition interlock devices and reports that these devices have prevented 6.45 million vehicle starts due to potential drivers being over the approved limit. Smart Start devices can also trigger false positives due to perfume, energy drinks, and products with high yeast content. Causing false positives are considered valid "fails" by state agencies and are charged a fee by Smart Start to reset the device. If you fail to have the device calibrated within a certain time frame, the device will automatically "service lock" and if your state does not allow for a "lockout code" your vehicle will have to be towed and calibrated. There is also a fee associated with this event. If you fail a test within the last 4 months of your sentence (Wa State Law) an automatic extension of 4 months is added to the original one year requirement. False positive readings are considered the equivalent to a failed test due to alcohol readings. Per Washington State DOL and SmartStart.

In 2011, Smart Start introduced the Smart Start IN-HOM breath alcohol monitoring system. This system is able to monitor offenders who do not own a vehicle, are on bond or probation, are under house arrest or have a suspended/revoked driver's license. The IN-HOM devices are available to DWI/DUI programs nationwide.