Smart Start, Inc., one of the nation’s biggest interlock companies, is hungry for business. So hungry that one of its franchisers may have violated Louisiana’s ethics laws.
The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre defended himself Friday against conflict of interest allegations involving a private business venture.
The Louisiana Board of Ethics claims that he may have run afoul of ethics laws by channeling business to an ignition interlock device company in which he once had a controlling interest.
Webre owns Smart Start Louisiana, an interlock installation and monitoring company. So, it stands to reason that he has a financial interest in seeing drunk driving offenders – all of whom are required to install interlocks in Louisiana – patronize his particular interlock company. He’s accused of using his powerful position to drum up business for his company.
On the legislative level, both the national and state offices of Smart Start have been heavily involved in the campaign for more widespread use of interlocks. It’s no surprise that a company that manufacturers, installs, services, monitors, and reports on interlocks would be pushing for increased use of its product. Check out the Smart Start Kansas blog which encourages the passage of harsher interlock laws while simultaneously offering discounts on interlocks for potential new customers.
Learn more about Smart Start and the role that interlock companies play in passing laws to increase the use of interlocks on our website.
