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Tag: breathalyzer

  • Breathalyzers in Bars May Save Lives

    Breathalyzers are the latest trend to be hitting bars across the nation, as a proposal from a state representative in Utah offers a plan that would include the alcohol level-testing machines in bars and pubs, according to the Associated Press.

    Draper Republican Representative Greg Hughes has offered an up-and-coming proposal in the state of Utah which would allow bars across the state to activate breathalyzer-type machines in their businesses. Hughes says that the plan is not mandatory, nor will any data ever be released to police.

    However, many bar owners in the area wonder just how effective the plan may be, and might it even worsen the statistics on drunk-driving deaths?

    Says Bob McCarthy, the owner of Garage on Beck in Salt Lake City, “Somebody could feel they shouldn’t be driving but the number says 0.08, which is right on the border, so maybe they’ll go and they shouldn’t go,” later adding, “Just know how much you’ve had to drink and whether you’re okay to drive.”

    McCarthy’s question isn’t that far-fetched; approximately 42% of college-age kids today admit that they are regular “binge drinkers.” The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as “drinking so much within two hours that Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dL, which is about four drinks for a woman, and five for a man.”

    The Century Council is a non-profit organization founded by a group of distillers in 1991 who were aiming to take action in the growing national problem of drinking and driving. That group now offers a National Advisory Board comprised of varying professionals who are dedicated to assisting the organization with implementing new programs and policies regarding drunk-driving awareness.

    The Century Council’s website offers national statistics relating to drinking and driving accidents, and the figures are astounding.

    The Council says that according to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association, in 2010 there were a total of 32,885 fatalities in the U.S. stemming from roadways and traffic accidents. Of those 32,885 deaths, nearly one-third of them were from drunk-driving accidents – 10,228 to be exact, which means that exactly 31% of traffic-related deaths in 2010 can be attributed to people who were driving while under the influence of alcohol.

    Also outlined in the plan are measures to avoid scaring bar and restaurant owners away from the idea, stipulating that while the machines can cost up to $1,000, many places that currently have the machines charge up to $2 per reading for users, and that it can substantially help establishments fight potential lawsuits when a patron from their bar is in an accident after leaving.

    Hughes says his proposal is a no-brainer: “It just makes good sense,” the politician said.

    Image via AlcoBuddy1, YouTube.

  • Breathalyzer in Bars: Utah Does it Again

    In some of the best news since twist-off wine caps, Associated Press tells us that Republican Rep. Greg Hughes of Utah is proposing that breathalyzers and other alcohol-detecting devices be placed in bars in the state.

    It won’t be a requirement for bars to have, but it would likely be a plus for bar owners to join in– by law, establishments are also partially held responsible for any mishaps that may occur once a patron leaves inebriated. If the breathalyzers are put in place, the bar will not be responsible for a drunk driver who fails the test but still decides to go on the road.

    With the introduction of breathalyzers available for public use, a weight would also be taken off of a bartender’s discerning eye to determine when a patron should be cut off– It also cuts down on any heated exchanges that also could occur from said patron being cut off.

    As with all things that just seem like an all -around good idea to most, there is some opposition. Just as some of the cavemen probably felt that the wheel was obtrusive and unnecessary, there are those who feel as if breathalyzers in the bar would do more harm than good.

    Some worry about the accuracy of the machines. What if the machine registered a lower level of alcohol than it truly is, giving a drinker just enough encouragement to stumble into the driver’s seat? Some just feel as if it’s best to know personally when you’ve had enough. Even when you’re stinking drunk. Which of course you shouldn’t do, but it does sadly happen. The best option is of course self-control and discernment, but wouldn’t you love having an unbiased machine to give you that clear clue to “Sit Down, Now” every now and again?

    Utah has had a high DUI rate in the past years, but has been able to lower their percentages recently. Rep. Greg Hughes hopes that these optional devices installed in bars will help maintain the state’s lowered DUI rates. What do you think?

    Image via NDN

  • Drug Breathalyzer That Can Detect Pot, Cocaine, Meth, and More Touted by Swedish Researchers

    The SensAbues DrugTrap is out to foil your drugged-up driving experiences.

    The breathalyzer. Anyone pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence knows it all too well. Since the 1980s, police have used the tool, first developed in 1967, to detect alcohol content in the blood. Until now, breath samples have only really been accurate in terms of alcohol, but Swedish researchers have just published a study which touts the abilities of the new product, a breathalyzer for drugs.

    The product and research comes from Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute, who used their drug-detecting breathalyzer to detect the presence of a wide variety of illegal drugs – with accuracy. They were even able to detect a host of other drugs with a little less accuracy.

    Researchers tapped 47 participants from the Stockholm Drug Emergency Clinic, collected blood and urine samples (for comparison), and had them blow into their device. Researchers say that they were able to accurately detect these substances: amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine, heroin, THC, Diazepam, Oxazepam, cocaine, and benzoylecgonine.

    And with less accuracy, these: Codiene, MDMA, Methadone, Nicotine, Continine, Zolpiden, and MDPV (bath salts)

    Here’s how SensAbues describes the technology:

    During normal breathing microparticles are formed from the airway liquid fluid by the closure and opening of bronchioles. These particles form a bioaserol that is carried out in the exhaled breath. These bioaerosol particles can be selectively collected by a unique filter technique developed at the Karolinska Institute. Collected particles can be used for drugs of abuse detection by analysis with high sensitivity technique, e.g. liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry.

    “Until now, sampling for drug testing has been a complicated, lengthy or intrusive process: urine samples have to be collected under surveillance; blood tests that have to be taken by trained medical staff. SensAbues offers a sampling device for easy and rapid sampling on site, a sampling procedure difficult to adulterate, and analysis by mass spectrometry for legally defensible results,” says SensAbues.

    It could be only a matter of time until police everywhere are able to quickly and easily breathalyze you for anything. Yeah, science?

    [IOP Science via Digital Trends]

  • San Francisco Police Use Faulty Equipment

    KCBS in San Francisco reported on a case of their local police officers not testing their equipment per official procedure before relying on them to make judgements in the field. The devices in question are their breathalyzers which they employ in alcohol related incidents where they need to gage how much alcohol an individual has ingested.

    In many cases, breathalyzers are the only thing standing between a motorists freedom and a jail cell. Apparently the devices the San Francisco Police Department uses are supposed to be calibrated against a standard every ten days. The results are recorded in a log book and used to verify accuracy if ever called into question. If they are like 100% of other test devices being used in various markets, deviations from the standard prompts users to either have them re-calibrated or discontinue use.

    An Attorney, Peter Fitzpatrick discovered the discrepancy while defending a client last year. Apparently the preliminary findings are that this misuse of the devices goes back at least a decade. San Francisco District Attorney, George Gascon commented on the discovery and was of the opinion that it wasn’t a malicious act by officers, but rather an act of laziness.

    Here’s KCBS’s video coverage on the neglect:

    The San Francisco public defenders office requests that anyone who feels they have been a victim of these faulty devices to contact their office. The phone number is (415) 553-1081. This is a serious problem especially if you have been convicted of DWI based on readings from these devices. Obviously, the public defenders office isn’t going to hear your complaint if you were grossly over the limit, but for some there will be cause for the cases to be reopened.

    This is a serious offense by law enforcement, if you are not qualified to use a piece of equipment, or misuse it, you shouldn’t be allowed to handle it. This is going to cost tax payers in the San Francisco area a lot of money. I hope there is some follow-up on this ten year long case of neglect. Shameful!

  • New App Can Tell If You’re Drunk

    While most of us can tell if we’re too drunk to drive, a new app is making that easier.

    Say hello to the cleverly titled BreathalEyes, a new app for the iPhone that scans a person’s eyes to see if they are too drunk to drive. The official Web site for the app says that BreathalEyes can “approximate an intoxicated individual’s blood alcohol content, anytime and anywhere.”

    The app uses new technology that can scan the eyes to “detect and analyze Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus” which is a sign of drunkenness. The technology is based on 40 years of public and private testing. It has an effective range of 0.02 percent to 0.17 percent BAC.

    The app is listed as being “for entertainment purposes only.” They remind users that everybody reacts differently to alcohol and that the test results are for reference only. The results may be affected by high altitude or medications.

    In tests run by the app developer, they found that their app and a breathalyzer come to almost the same result.

    Any potential drunk needs a designated tester to use the app on them as it requires a steady hand and decent lighting.

    The app is available now for iPhone 4 and later for $0.99. An Android version is expected later this year.

    Now the real challenge is convincing the drunk to hand over their keys. Maybe somebody will make an app for that one day.