The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission announced in August that a tougher, 1-year-old DWI law resulted in more than 14,000 ignition interlocks ordered for installation in Louisiana vehicles.

But now, two months later, a burning question remains. Are they actually being installed?

The devices, estimated to reduce repeat offenders by 64 percent, require drivers to blow into a tube that registers blood alcohol levels before a vehicle will start, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, better known as MADD, an advocacy group. And while there’s no hard data tracking installation efforts, several of the state’s six installers authorized to do business in Louisiana recently cried foul. Many have heard of the orders, but customers are a no-show, they said.

Smart Start La., an installation, maintenance and service company with franchise offices in Slidell and Hammond, has seen only slight increases in business, despite the surge in orders, said chief operating officer Cory LeBlanc.

“Everybody has seen the increase but not to the extent that you would think with the orders,” LeBlanc said. “We’re not sure where the follow through isn’t happening. That’s what we can’t figure out, whether it’s the (defendant) that’s not following through with the order or if the agencies are not familiar with the new law.”

His take is a familiar thought throughout the “fraternity” of ignition interlock dealers, he said.

“Everyone knows each other, and everyone says the same thing,” he said.

Gail Fontenot agrees. As the owner of Livingston-based SafeStart of Louisiana with an office in Hammond, she’s wondering when new business will roll in.

“It’s just frustrating when you know they’re supposed to be installed, and nobody is coming,” Fontenot said. “Why are they not coming?”

The problem may be in oversight. Contrary to common belief, judges don’t always order the ignition interlocks installed. It’s a function of Office of Motor Vehicles that requires a receipt for the interlock before a license can be granted to those convicted of DWI, according to both the OMV and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

So if someone convicted of a DWI chooses not to apply for the “hardship” license — meaning driving privileges are granted to and from work, school, family or religious functions — they may opt to skip the process entirely and drive illegally.

“Why have it installed when you can drive around anyway?” Fontenot asked.

Nationwide, 1.4 million people a year are convicted of drunk driving offenses, but only 135,000 ignition interlocks are in operation, said Misty Moyse, MADD spokesman and former executive director for the Louisiana’s chapter.

Locally, there is no data breaking down who and how many people in each parish are ordered to install the devices.

“There’s a big gap there,” Moyse said. “And obviously they’re only effective if it’s implemented.”

Any stalling, however, may be chalked up to implementation time, said Jaime Ainsworth, spokeswoman with the HSC.

“We understand there will be some lag time from (the day of conviction to the day they are installed), but we just don’t know how long,” she said.

Still, authorities are certain once installed, the ignition interlocks will save lives.

“We are confident the ignition interlock will be a major deterrent to driving while intoxicated,” said Lt. Col. John Leblanc, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, who compiled the data. “Nobody wants to face the hassle of having one of these devices installed in his or her vehicle.”

Precedent shows it could be working. In New Mexico, which in 2003 became the first state to require ignition interlocks for convicted DWI offenders, alcohol fatality rates fell from 225 in 2002 to 191 in 2006, a 15 percent decline, or 34 fewer deaths, Leblanc said.

“New Mexico is less than half the size of Louisiana, which suggests a greater number of lives could be saved in our state,” he said.

The law, authored by state Rep. Ernest Wooton of Belle Chasse and effective since Aug. 15, 2007, requires first time offenders to install the interlock at their own expense.

“It’s the biggest road block we can put in these people’s car,” said Sgt. Marcus Smith, a State Police spokesman.

But still Fred Bowers, owner of Conway, Ark.-based Superior Interlock Services Inc, with offices in Covington and Slidell, isn’t even sure they’re being installed.

“We’re just not seeing much increase in business. We’re not seeing any numbers that would reflect those numbers of orders. We’re not,” he said. “And I don’t know why. I’m trying to get a handle on it myself, but I don’t know.”