Alcohol Detection Systems

What Alcohol Detection Systems does

Alcohol Detection Systems Technology, LLC ("ADS") is a privately held U.S. provider of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa, and operating as a brand within the Mindr family of companies. Founded in 2010, ADS designs, distributes, and services court-mandated fuel-cell breathalyzer IIDs that prevent vehicle startup when the operator's breath alcohol concentration exceeds state-set thresholds. Its two core products — the Determinator® (no camera) and the Determinator II® (with built-in camera for photo verification) — feature detachable handheld hardware, bilingual English/Spanish voice prompts, GPS location logging, random mid-trip retests, and daily calibration reminders. Devices are NHTSA-certified and sold exclusively through certified professional installation rather than self-installation.

ADS's revenue model combines recurring monthly device leases with one-time installation and removal fees and mandatory periodic calibration/servicing appointments every 30, 60, or 90 days depending on state requirements. The company serves DUI/DWI offenders referred or mandated by courts and state monitoring authorities, with go-to-market executed through a phone-based state-specialist call center, the adsinterlock.com website, and an extensive referral channel of DUI attorneys, driving schools, and alcohol treatment centers. Distribution is anchored by 513 ADS-branded certified service centers plus a reciprocal partnership with Intoxalock that brings the combined installation footprint to more than 4,265 locations across 25 U.S. states — described in company materials as the largest such network in the country.

Name

Alcohol Detection Systems

Legal name

Alcohol Detection Systems Technology, LLC

Website

https://adsinterlock.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alcohol Detection Systems is a U.S. provider of NHTSA-certified ignition interlock devices, serving court-mandated DUI offenders across 25 states through 513 branded service centers and a partnership with Intoxalock totaling 4,265+ installation locations nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ignition Interlock Devices

NAICS

Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (81121), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Emissions Testing (I/M Programs) & Smog Check Stations (TLAKANAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drug & Alcohol Testing Coordination (BPACALAE), Traffic Enforcement & Road Safety (Highway Patrol, DUI, Collision Investigation) (BPAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Ignition interlock devices
• Breath alcohol testing
• DUI compliance services
• Vehicle interlock installation
• Court-mandated monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbandale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Device Monthly Lease: Customers lease ignition interlock devices on a monthly basis. The monthly lease fee covers device usage and ongoing support. Customers return for regular calibration appointments (every 30, 60, or 90 days).
2. Installation Fees: Professional installation by certified technicians. Installation takes 1-3 hours depending on vehicle make and model. Some states offer free standard installation rebates up to $100.
3. Calibration and Servicing: Regular calibration and servicing appointments required every 30-60-90 days depending on state requirements. Customers must return to the same installation location for calibrations throughout their interlock term.
4. Removal Fees: Charges for device removal at end of interlock term. Late fees may apply if device is kept beyond authorized end date.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alcohol Detection Systems leases, professionally installs, and services ignition interlock devices (IIDs) that prevent a vehicle from starting when the driver's breath alcohol content exceeds state-set thresholds. The company's devices (Determinator and Determinator II) are paired with installation, recurring calibration appointments every 30-60-90 days, and end-of-term removal services for individuals mandated by courts or state monitoring authorities after a DUI conviction.

Product overview

Alcohol Detection Systems offers two core ignition interlock device products: The Determinator® and The Determinator II®. Both are handheld breath alcohol analyzers wired into vehicle ignitions that prevent drivers from starting vehicles when alcohol is detected above state-set thresholds. The Determinator II® includes an integrated camera for states requiring photo verification during tests, while the standard Determinator® serves states without camera requirements. Both devices feature detachable designs, bilingual English/Spanish voice prompts, digital displays, and require calibration every 30-90 days depending on state requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Determinator: Ignition interlock device without camera functionality, featuring bilingual voice commands and detachable handheld design.
• Determinator II

Products and services

• The Determinator NHTSA-certified ignition interlock device without an integrated camera that analyzes breath alcohol content and prevents vehicle startup when BrAC exceeds state thresholds. Features detachable handheld design, bilingual voice prompts in English and Spanish, digital displays, and daily calibration reminders. Used by court-mandated DUI offenders in states that do not require photo verification.
• The Determinator II NHTSA-certified ignition interlock device with a built-in camera for facial/photo verification during breath tests, required by states that mandate photo capture. Features detachable handheld design, bilingual English/Spanish voice prompts, video sampling indicators, digital displays, and discreet in-vehicle mounting. Used by court-mandated DUI offenders in camera-required states.
• IID Installation Service Professional installation of an ADS ignition interlock device into a customer's vehicle by a certified technician. Installation takes 1-3 hours depending on vehicle make and model; some states offer free standard installation rebates up to $100. Provided to court-mandated DUI offenders at ADS service centers.
• IID Calibration and Servicing Recurring calibration and servicing appointments required by state IID programs every 30, 60, or 90 days. Customers must return to the same installation location throughout their interlock term. Provided to DUI offenders maintaining IID compliance.
• IID Removal Service End-of-term removal of the ignition interlock device from the customer's vehicle at completion of the court-mandated interlock period. Late fees may apply if the device is kept beyond the authorized end date. Provided to DUI offenders concluding their IID requirement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ignition interlock devices are proven to help prevent drunk driving recidivism
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• IntoxalockcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorADS has partnered with Intoxalock to provide an expanded network of installation locations. The combined network offers more than 4,265 locations across the United States, making ADS the provider with the most installation locations nationwide. Intoxalock locations appear in ADS location searches and redirect customers to intoxalock.com for scheduling.
• DUI AttorneyskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with DUI defense attorneys who refer convicted clients to ADS for IID installation. Benefits include: affordable ignition interlock devices, convenient locations, discrete devices, compliance reporting support, printed materials for clients, and partner-only coupons.
• DUI/Driving SchoolskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with DUI education programs and driving schools whose clients require IID installation. Partners receive up-to-date state IID requirement information, client resources including FAQs, how-to videos, and state manuals.
• Alcohol Treatment CenterskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with substance abuse treatment facilities whose clients may be court-ordered to install IIDs. Benefits include: 24/7 customer support, state-specific IID requirement information, client resources, and advertising support to help get clients back on the road.
• Authorized Service Centers/InstallerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 513+ ADS-branded authorized service centers staffed with certified technicians. Benefits for service centers include: continuous business from regular calibrations (every 30-60 days), no inventory cost (ADS provides products), superior marketing and tech support, 24/7 partner support, and payment for skilled labor of installations, calibration, and de-installation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Guardian Interlock: Ignition interlock device provider with a multi-state service center network serving court-mandated DUI offenders. Closely comparable to ADS in customer segment, recurring monthly lease model, and emphasis on convenient calibration locations.
• ALCOLOCK: Provider of ignition interlock devices serving court-mandated offenders across a network of US service centers. Comparable to ADS in offering NHTSA-certified devices on a recurring lease with periodic calibration appointments.
• Low Cost Interlock: Regional ignition interlock provider competing on price in multiple states. Directly comparable to ADS as a court-mandated IID installer with monthly lease pricing and state-approved calibration service, particularly relevant as a price-based competitor.
• Intoxalock: Largest ignition interlock device provider in the United States and a sister brand to ADS under the Mindr family. Both target court-mandated DUI offenders with NHTSA-certified IIDs, monthly leases, and statewide service center networks, and the two brands explicitly partner on installation location coverage.
• LifeSafer: National ignition interlock device provider offering NHTSA-certified IIDs to DUI offenders on a monthly subscription with state-mandated calibration. Competes head-to-head with ADS for court referrals and state approval status across many of the same states.
• Smart Start: One of the largest ignition interlock providers in North America, offering court-mandated IID installation, calibration, and removal across multiple states. Directly comparable to ADS in product offering, customer base, and revenue model (monthly lease plus periodic calibration).

Broad incumbents

• Dräger: Global manufacturer of industrial breath alcohol measurement and detection equipment, including evidential and interlock-grade devices. Relevant as a broader incumbent in breath alcohol measurement technology, though it does not typically operate a US consumer-facing IID service network.

Emerging players

• BACtrack: Consumer-focused breathalyzer brand that has expanded into professional and law-enforcement-grade alcohol screening products. Comparable to ADS as a fuel-cell breath alcohol measurement provider, though anchored in voluntary/consumer demand rather than court-mandated IID installation.

Others

• Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions: Sister brand under the Mindr family focused on SR-22 and high-risk auto insurance for drivers with violations. Comparable as an adjacent service in the DUI recovery journey that benefits from the same court-mandated traffic funnel ADS serves.
• Mindr: Parent company and brand portfolio operator that owns ADS alongside Intoxalock, Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions, DUICare, Keepr, and others. Relevant as the ecosystem that sets ADS's strategic constraints, including its shared ownership and partnership with direct competitor Intoxalock.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@alcoholdetectionsystems2338
• Facebookfacebook.com/adsinterlock
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alcohol-detection-systems

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alcohol Detection Systems