To determine whether the use of a passive alcohol sensor (PAS) in
routine traffic enforcement increases the driving-under-the-influence (DUI)
arrest rate of alcohol-impaired drivers.
Methods
Officers in a Maryland
police department were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the first with
PAS devices and the second without PAS devices (the control group). Then, the
PAS units were switched from the first to the second group. Arrest, PAS, and
preliminary breath-test data were collected on 714 nighttime traffic stops over
two enforcement periods.
Results
The DUI arrest rate for the officers with and without the PAS was the
same, 13%. Officers who made no arrests without the PAS benefited the most from
using it. Drivers stopped for an unsafe lane change, driving over the center
line, and negligent driving were arrested for DUI 35% of the time.
Conclusions
The PAS appears to increase the DUI arrest rate of officers who rarely
make DUI arrests, but it does not increase the DUI arrest rate of officers who
normally make DUI arrests without passive sensors. It appears that it could be
successful in increasing the overall number of DUI arrests for a police
department if issued to, and training is provided to, patrol officers who do
not normally make DUI arrests.
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