Last week, a Des Moines company called Intoxalock, which makes in‑car breathalyzer “ignition interlock” devices, was hit by a cyberattack that disrupted drivers in roughly 45 states.
At the time of this report’s preparation, there were no indications that service had been fully restored.
Since March 14, 2026, that’s been the reality for an estimated 150,000 drivers across 46 states. Not because they did anything wrong. Not because of a mechanical failure. Because Intoxalock — the company whose device the court system required them to install in their vehicles — got hit by a cyberattack, and their servers went offline.And when Intoxalock’s servers go offline, the ignition interlock devices they make stop functioning. And when those devices stop functioning, the cars they’re wired into don’t start.This is what happens when a court-ordered safety requirement depends on a vendor’s cloud connectivity, and nobody asked the hard questions about what happens when the vendor gets hacked.
The attack hit an important calibration function that needs to be done weekly. Cars have remained parked for over a week as a result of the breach.
Intoxalock spokesperson Rachael Larson confirmed to TechCrunch that the company had been hit by a cyberattack. Larson said the company took steps to “temporarily pause some of our systems as a precautionary measure.”These breathalyzer devices need to be calibrated every few months or so, but the cyberattack has left Intoxalock unable to perform these calibrations. The company said customers whose devices require calibration may experience delays starting their vehicles.Drivers posting on Reddit say that cars are unable to start if they miss a calibration, effectively locking drivers out of their vehicles.According to local news reports across Maine, drivers are experiencing lockouts and some have been unable to start their vehicles. One auto shop in Middleboro told WCVB 5 in Boston that it has had cars parked in its lot all week due to the cyberattack.
The company issued assurances that its data remained safe. Apparently, the hackers overloaded the firm’s servers.
The company said that hackers are overloading its servers and are stopping them from working, WGME reported. But while the servers are being affected, the user data is safe, the company said. There was no word on a ransom, according to the television station.Intoxalock has provided customers with updates on how it affects them.The initial alert said that future installations would be paused through March 20 and that anyone with an appointment that had been scheduled to call the provider to reschedule.If calibrations have been missed since the incident started on March 14, they should call Intoxalock Roadside Assistance at 844-226-7522 or if you have to use a different towing service, that cost can be reimbursed, but make sure you keep all documents.
The Intoxalock cyberattack should serve as a wake‑up call for policymakers and the justice system alike.
When government mandates depend on private vendors whose systems hinge on constant cloud connectivity, it’s only a matter of time before real people pay the price for someone else’s cybersecurity failure.
The next round of “smart” safety rules should include a backup plan that doesn’t leave 150,000 drivers stranded through no fault of their own.
This is a disturbing scenario for those of us who do not drive under the influence, too….as so many other essential items in our lives are now married to cyberspace.
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