Smart Start, a US-based technology company with interest in development of alcohol monitoring devices, has developed a new smartphone app for iTunes store and Android platform.

The company looks for a growing demand for its ignition interlock and IN-HOM alcohol monitoring systems due to enforcement of stronger DWI/DUI laws in 2012 in a number of states in the US.

The app, which can be downloaded for free and gives easier access to enrollment information, provides product information, device training, a location finder based on Google Maps, a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) calculator, and product and enrollment information.

Smart Start has around 1,000 company-owned and franchised service stations in the US, Europe, Latin America, New Zealand and Australia.

State rules need alcohol interlock devices on vehicles of DUI convicts, which help in decreasing repetition of alcohol related offences, according to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The new ignition interlock legislation in the US need 17 states to install a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) in vehicles of convicts found guilty of driving with blood-alcohol levels over the 0.08 legal limit.

The ignition interlocks need the drivers to blow into a device to verify that they are breaching the permitted level of alcohol consumption.

Smart Start’s new smartphone app is a resource for drivers who have been convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI), have a licensing requirement, have been court ordered to have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle, or have been mandated to use a home alcohol monitoring system as a condition of their supervision.

The new app allows users to access enrollment, device information, training videos and more than 1,000 Smart Start service center locations in the US from an iOs or Android smart phone.

A BrAC calculator in the app provides users an understanding of how alcohol consumption, time, weight and gender affect blood alcohol content (BAC) levels.

Smart Start president Jim Ballard said since 44% of Americans own a smartphone and not everyone has access to a computer immediately after they have been arrested for DWI, the company feels it is important to provide easy access to enrollment and information about the alcohol monitoring devices from a cellular phone.

"The new app will also be a useful tool for probation officers, attorneys, law enforcement, judicial and monitoring authorities when DWI offenders call on them for guidance regarding their mandate to install a BAIID or IN-HOM® alcohol monitoring system," Ballard added.

The ignition interlock devices prevents ignition of a car if a driver has alcohol in his or her body beyond the permitted level.

An optional camera and GPS tracker also come with the Smart Start ignition interlock systems.