The Smart Start milestones page celebrates every achievement with our Ignition Interlock Devices, portable devices and other service and technological advancements that have occurred since 1992.
| December 1992 | Company founded under Jay D. and Bettye Rodgers in Texas with four employees |
| January 1993 | Smart Start is incorporated in anticipation of NHTSA federal specifications for Ignition Interlock Devices |
| September 1994 | Jim Ballard joins Smart Start as Chief Operating Officer (COO) |
| May 1995 | Smart Start launches proprietary software SmarTrac® to manage device data, monitoring, and security |
| July 1996 | Smart Start moves into new headquarters in Irving, TX and extends Customer Care Center to a 24/7/365, bilingual customer service experience |
| September 1996 | Smart Start introduces SmartLog®, a new automated reporting platform allowing state-specific custom log interpretation |
| October 1998 | Smart Start begins manufacturing the SSI-1000™ – the company’s first NHTSA-certified Ignition Interlock that implements alcohol-specific fuel cells, eliminating false positive breath samples |
| September 1999 | The first corporate store outside of Texas opens in Florida |
| January 2000 | Smart Start begins franchise model in Texas |
| June 2001 | B. Lamar Ball Jr. becomes Chief Executive Officer (CEO) |
| January 2002 | Smart Start operates in eight states |
| February 2002 | SmartWeb® is introduced to authorities across the U.S. – designed as a simple online tool to view a client’s log data, the first of its kind |
| January 2003 | Smart Start operates in 16 states |
| January 2004 | Smart Start operates in 25 states |
| April 2005 | Smart Start is ranked in the Franchise Times’ Fast 55 – “Fastest Growing New U.S. Franchises” |
| July 2006 | SmarTrac® management software is redesigned, and becomes first nationwide Interlock management platform |
| January 2007 | Smart Start operates in 32 states |
| March 2007 | Smart Start launches the SSI-20/20™ – a new modular and re-programmable Interlock |
| January 2008 | Smart Start leads the the industry, providing an Ignition Interlock Device with a camera for photo identification |
| March 2009 | First international sales launch in Denmark and Sweden |
| May 2009 | Smart Start receives its initial StandardsMark License from SAI Global (registrar, breath alcohol testing device standard) for Australia |
| September 2009 | Smart Start ranks in Inc Magazine’s “Meet America’s Entrepreneurial Superstars” issue |
| October 2009 | The IN-HOM™ is developed – a low-cost, portable alcohol monitoring device |
| January 2010 | Operations begin in Australia |
| January 2011 | Smart Start operates in 45 states |
| September 2011 | Smart Start launches sales in Chile |
| November 2011 | Smart Start launches mobile apps for Android and iOS, and launches sales in Mexico |
| February 2012 | Smart Start launches Smart Tracker, a GPS and cellular modem for the SSI-20/20™. GPS tracking, E911 and Smart Alert launch as new software modules to support Smart Tracker |
| March 2012 | Smart Start is awarded ISO9001 Certification for its manufacturing processes |
| June 2012 | Third-generation Ignition Interlock, the SSI-20/30™, is introduced. Introduces its second-generation camera module, and expands operations to New Zealand. |
| August 2013 | Smart Start’s SSI-20/30 attains compliance with the CENELEC EN-50436-1:2005 standard for Europe |
| November 2013 | Smart Start moves into new company headquarters in Grapevine, TX |
| July 2014 | Smart Start achieves compliance with NHTSA’s new federal Ignition Interlock standards |
| September 2014 | Smart Start Canada ULC is incorporated as Smart Start expands its North American operations into Canada |
| November 2014 | Smart Start launches the third-generation IN-HOM™ SMART Mobile™ with facial detection. Smart Start Canada is awarded sole source contract for Alberta’s Ignition Interlock program |
| February 2015 | Smart Start Canada is awarded sole source contract for Saskatchewan’s Ignition Interlock program |
| March 2015 | Matt Strausz becomes CEO |
| May 2015 | The SSI-20/30™ passes Canada’s testing standard, CSTT-HVC-TR-114, as published by Canada’s National Research Council |
| June 2015 | Additional Customer Care Center opens in Kansas |
| August 2015 | Smart Start is acquired by ABRY Partners |
| October 2015 | Smart Start Canada is awarded sole source contract for Manitoba’s Ignition Interlock program |
| July 2016 | SmartWeb 3.0 launches as an all-inclusive case management tool for state authorities |
| August 2016 | Smart Start Canada is awarded sole source contract for British Columbia’s Ignition Interlock program |
| June 2017 | DIGNITA Systems AB is purchased – a road safety technology company based in Sweden |
| September 2017 | Smart Start helps enact all-offender Ignition Interlock law in 30 U.S. states and D.C. |
| November 2017 | Smart Start installations reach 1,000,000 clients |
| December 2017 | Celebrates 25th anniversary with more than 600 employees |
