It’s one of the most common questions we receive from motorcycle riders ordered onto the NSW Alcohol Interlock Program: can an interlock device be fitted to a motorbike?
The short answer is: no — and the law accounts for this.
Why Can’t an Interlock Be Fitted to a Motorcycle?
Alcohol interlock devices require:
- A 12V power supply similar to a car battery
- A wiring harness connected to the ignition circuit
- A mounting point for the handset in a location the rider can access before starting
- A Photo ID camera module (mandatory in NSW) mounted inside the cabin
Motorcycles present significant technical problems for all of these requirements. There’s no enclosed cabin for the camera module, weather exposure creates calibration and reliability issues, and the vibration from a motorcycle engine is incompatible with most interlock handsets currently approved in NSW.
No interlock device manufacturer has yet produced a unit certified for motorcycle use in Australia.
What Happens to Motorcycle Riders on the Interlock Program?
If you are a motorcycle-only licence holder (you don’t hold a car licence), the situation is more complex. Transport for NSW and the courts have recognised that fitting an interlock is not practicable in this case.
Options may include:
1. Extended Disqualification in Lieu of Interlock
In some cases, riders who cannot have an interlock fitted are ordered to serve a longer period of disqualification instead of the interlock period. This is at the discretion of the court.
2. Interlock Exemption Order
A motorcycle-only rider may be able to apply to the Local Court for an Interlock Exemption Order on the grounds that compliance is not reasonably practicable. This is one of the stronger grounds for an exemption — unlike financial hardship alone, the inability to fit the device to your only vehicle type is a genuine technical impossibility.
If the exemption is granted, you will typically face an alternative disqualification period.
3. Riding Prohibited, Car Use Permitted
If you hold both a car and motorcycle licence, the interlock condition applies to all motor vehicles you drive — not just motorcycles. You would need to have the device installed in any car you use, and your motorcycle would effectively be off limits for the duration of the program (since it cannot have an interlock fitted).
Can I Ride a Work Motorcycle?
No — if you are subject to an interlock order, you cannot ride any motorcycle that does not have the device fitted. Since a motorcycle cannot have an interlock fitted, this effectively means no motorcycle riding for the duration of your program unless you obtain an exemption order.
Riding a motorcycle while subject to an interlock condition is equivalent to driving without an interlock — it is a serious criminal offence.
What About Electric Motorcycles or Scooters?
The same rules apply regardless of fuel type. Electric motorcycles and scooters are still motorcycles under NSW law, and the interlock requirement would still apply — with the same practical impossibility of fitting a compliant device.
What Should Motorcycle Riders Do?
If you are a motorcycle rider who has been ordered onto the interlock program:
- Get legal advice immediately — a traffic solicitor can advise on your specific grounds for an exemption application
- Do not ride your motorcycle in the meantime — the risk of a further offence is not worth it
- Contact Transport for NSW or your interlock provider to clarify your options
- Apply for an Interlock Exemption Order through the Local Court if appropriate
Can We Help?
If you hold both a car and motorcycle licence and need an interlock fitted to your car so you can continue driving, we can help. Interlock Sydney fits devices to all makes and models of cars — see our gallery of vehicles we’ve worked on.
Contact us or call 02 9398 8817 to book an installation.
Sources & References
The legal and regulatory information in this article is based on the following official sources:
- NSW Road Transport Act 2013 — legislation.nsw.gov.au
- NSW Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017 — legislation.nsw.gov.au
- Transport for NSW — Alcohol Interlock Program — transport.nsw.gov.au
- Smart Start Interlocks Australia — smartstartinterlocks.com.au
Legal disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Interlock laws and program requirements can change. Always verify current rules with Transport for NSW or consult a qualified traffic solicitor for advice specific to your situation.