CHAMBERSBURG, PA - Police officers use breathalyzer machines, called the Intoxilyzer 5000EN Breathalyzer, often to test for blood alcohol content (BAC). Now, in the state of Pennsylvania, State Police have issued a state-wide suspension.
A judge from Dauphin County says the breathalyzer is unreliable.
"I think it's a really good thing that they're going to take action to get something a lot more accurate for people that are driving under the influence," says Katie Rine, a PA Resident. "Especially because so many young people I feel like are dying because of car accidents and people driving drunk."
"I wouldn't want it to be unreliable and have people that were actually innocent being accused of being guilty of drunk driving," says Ellen Celestial, PA Resident."At the same time, we want to keep everyone safe on the road."
Since the court ruling, a number of cases have been dismissed. PA State Police say they'll be checking BAC levels at the hospital so future cases won't be undermined.
"Instead of taking you back to the barracks to blow into the intoxilyzer now they would just take you to the hospital to give blood," says Trooper Robert Hicks, Public Information Officer, PA State Police.
Trooper Hicks says officers are still keeping roads safe from drivers under the influence with field sobriety tests. The hand-held breathalyzer is still OK to use, as well.
He says, "It's the same test as the one-leg stand, the walk and turn, horizontal gaze nystagmus this is just a little extra to help pad your case, make your case."
The only difference now is time. The breathalyzer machine gave immediate results, but blood test results take a few weeks to come back.
A judge from Dauphin County says the breathalyzer is unreliable.
"I think it's a really good thing that they're going to take action to get something a lot more accurate for people that are driving under the influence," says Katie Rine, a PA Resident. "Especially because so many young people I feel like are dying because of car accidents and people driving drunk."
"I wouldn't want it to be unreliable and have people that were actually innocent being accused of being guilty of drunk driving," says Ellen Celestial, PA Resident."At the same time, we want to keep everyone safe on the road."
Since the court ruling, a number of cases have been dismissed. PA State Police say they'll be checking BAC levels at the hospital so future cases won't be undermined.
"Instead of taking you back to the barracks to blow into the intoxilyzer now they would just take you to the hospital to give blood," says Trooper Robert Hicks, Public Information Officer, PA State Police.
Trooper Hicks says officers are still keeping roads safe from drivers under the influence with field sobriety tests. The hand-held breathalyzer is still OK to use, as well.
He says, "It's the same test as the one-leg stand, the walk and turn, horizontal gaze nystagmus this is just a little extra to help pad your case, make your case."
The only difference now is time. The breathalyzer machine gave immediate results, but blood test results take a few weeks to come back.
Comments
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February 23, 2013 at 4:01 am
