A viral video posted to TikTok shows a driver with an interlock device that isn’t registering that he can drive his vehicle. Drivers who have one of these devices fitted in their car are required to breathe into it, and the result must be valid for the car to start.
The driver shows viewers how infuriating it is to pay $120 per month for such a device only for it not to work. His frustration is further underscored by the fact that it is very hot where he is, at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is even a point where he gestures to the camera, saying it also needs to be fitted into his car, and asks the company to stop playing games with him. It’s easy to see how this is ridiculously frustrating, especially when it’s your only means of transportation.
It seems he was finally able to get it going, according to more recent updates, but it’s still really annoying to deal with. The video has since gained over 215,000 likes and 3.7 million views.
The Driver Says He’s Paying for a Device That Won’t Cooperate
@theglobfather420 … guess you cant do the time dont do the crime… BUT THEY PLAYIN WITH ME🤦🏼♂️ #FYP #CheckPoint #Relateable #Humor #Fypviral ♬ original sound – The Glob Father🥄🍯
In the video above, you can see the driver showing a small camera in his car’s cabin, a device with a straw jutting out of the top. This is an interlock device fitted in the cars of some who have been convicted of DUI to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
Ideally, you’re supposed to blow into it, wait for the reading to be valid, and then move on with your day. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened, and you can see the sweat rolling off the driver’s forehead as a result.
The camera is placed to prevent another person from blowing into the straw on your behalf and getting an invalid reading. However, I’m not really sure what he is expected to do at this point.
Commenters Couldn’t Agree on Who Deserved the Sympathy
The comments quickly split into two camps. One side had little sympathy for the driver, noting that ignition interlock devices are typically installed after serious impaired-driving offenses. “Don’t drink and drive. It’s 2026… Uber exists,” one commenter wrote, while another summed up the situation with, “Oh no. Consequences.”
The other side focused less on why the device was installed and more on how unreliable they can be. Numerous people who said they had used interlock devices shared stories about them failing in extreme heat or cold, draining vehicle batteries, or refusing to start their cars despite following the instructions. One commenter even joked, “Legend says he’s still trying to get his car started in 100-degree weather.”
A handful of mechanics and industry workers also chimed in, saying the devices can be frustrating to deal with regardless of the season. Others tried to strike a middle ground, acknowledging that the driver made a mistake but arguing that the equipment should still function properly. As one commenter put it, “He knows what he did and is dealing with the consequences… but it should work right.”