BALTIMORE (WJZ) — State police are rolling out a new tool to get drunk drivers off the road.
Alex DeMetrick reports, it puts part of a police station on wheels.
It’s the first of its kind in Maryland: A mobile breath alcohol testing truck.
“It’s going to streamline the process for arresting officers as well as those that are arrested for impaired driving offenses,” says Sgt. Corey Steffy, of the Maryland State Police.
Here’s how. Right now, when a driver is believed to be under the influence, a field sobriety check is done. Fail it, and the officer must drive the suspect back to the station for a breathalyzer test. But the new truck takes the breathalyzer to the street.
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13 comments:
And this is more efficient how?? What a joke, how is a handheld breathalyzer not easier for officers and more cost efficient?
big state for 1 truck, looks like a lot of travel time from western md to ocean city
If this mobile impaired driver testing truck were to make a difference, the driver would be like the chicken with it's head cut off, all over the place in Maryland, every single minute, of every single day, non stop there will be drunks to test. It'll never have time to come down here to Delmarva, plus due to it's large size will be an impediment to oncoming traffic (especially drunk drivers), much like an ambulance sitting on or in a busy highway. Regarding the testing of drunks behind the wheel, why try to fix what's not broken?
Like they aren't going to the station anyway? They don't want to give those .08s and .09s the fifteen minutes to an hour to sober up on their way back to HQ. Want to get you while your hot. They must have seen a cost benefit, or it could just be another hand off of our tax dollars from politician to business friend for an unnecessary project.
Handheld pbt isn't admissible in court. An actual intoximeter is needed for a dui.
There is no such thing as a handheld breathalyzer (aka intoximeter). Apparently you are referring to a handheld PBT, a preliminary breath test device used at roadside testing, along with other sobriety field tests. In MD, the result of a preliminary breath test is not admissible in court. It is used with other tests to determine whether or not an arrest will be made. A person does not have to submit to a PBT.
If a person is arrested for driving under the influence/driving while impaired, they must choose whether or not they will submit to an intoximeter (aka breathalyzer) test. An intoximeter or breathalyzer is a instrument located inside a building (usually a State Police Barrack), or in this case inside a truck, but is much too large for an officer to hold in their hand.
Most patrol officers, deputies and troopers are not certified as Intoximeter/Breathalyzer Operators. Usually there will be a Sgt. or Corporal at a Barrack that is certified, or in this case in the truck.
They should use it ON the cops.
No dought it'll come equipped with a NRP LEO so they can continue to skate around search and seizure laws.
Probably going to be used at checkpoints and with roving saturation patrols.
Now as Pro MSP and all men and women in blue, I have to say this is a total waste of tax dollars!!
Shame on you Larry Hogan!! You are just as bad as Bob Culver giving the Sheriffs Office 10(TEN) brand new Ford Explorers this past year!
11:32--
Right! Bozman w/Wico. Sheriff's certainly wouldn't pass!
if anyone cannot keep their vehicle in their lane, take them off the road immediately and schedule a driver examination for them to return to the road.
Big Big Brother
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