Using a passive alcohol sensor to detect legally intoxicated drivers
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
We examined
whether a passive alcohol sensor could be used for mass screening of motorists
to accurately and quickly detect drivers whose blood alcohol concentration
exceeded a variety of levels often established as per se evidence of legal
intoxication.
METHODS:
In a voluntary
roadside survey, 1181 late-night drivers in Minnesota were interviewed. Breath
measurements were taken with both a passive alcohol sensor and an evidentiary
quality portable breath-test device.
RESULTS:
Measurements
could be taken much more easily and quickly with the passive sensor, whose
readings correlated very strongly (r = .87) with the evidentiary device. Moreover,
for criterion blood alcohol concentration levels ranging from 100 mg/dL to 20
mg/dL, a large proportion of motorists could be accurately identified as being
above or below the criterion, with relatively few false-negative or
false-positive identifications.
CONCLUSIONS:
The use of
passive alcohol sensors at sobriety checkpoints should allow motorists to be
processed very quickly with minimal inconvenience. At the same time, detection
of legally intoxicated motorists will probably be substantially increased and
the general deterrent value of per se alcohol-impaired driving laws enhanced.
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