NCJ Number
68272
Date Published
1975
Length
570 pages
Annotation
A REPORT FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION EVALUATES THE STATE OF THE ART ON SOBRIETY TESTING AS PRACTICED BY ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECTS (ASAP'S).
Abstract
DATA WERE BASED ON INTERVIEWS DURING 4 1/2-DAY SITE VISITS TO 22 ASAP'S THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE GOAL OF THE ASAP'S IS TO IMPROVE HIGHWAY SAFETY BY REDUCING DRINKING-DRIVING PROBLEMS. THE REPORT SEEKS TO EVALUATE PHYSICAL COORDINATION (PSYCHOMOTOR) TESTS, PREARREST BREATH SCREENING, AND EVIDENTIARY TESTING. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT PHYSICAL COORDINATION TESTS ARE NOT UNIFORM AT THE VARIOUS SITES AND ARE ALL ADMINISTERED DIFFERENTLY. HEAD-TO-TOE AND FINGER-TO-NOSE TESTS ARE MOST COMMON. OFFICERS OBJECT TO PSYCHOMOTOR TESTS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THE TESTS ARE UNRELIABLE. PRE-ARREST BREATH SCREENING IS VIEWED BY OFFICERS AS A WORTHWHILE ENDEAVOR; THE BORG-WARNER UNIT IS THE MOST POPULAR PREARREST SCREENING DEVICE, DESPITE LARGE BREATH AMOUNTS NEEDED AND CALIBRATION PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED. OFFICERS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT BREATH TESTING FOR EVIDENTIARY PURPOSES BECAUSE OF ITS CONVENIENCE, BUT ARE NOT ADEQUATELY TRAINED IN SCREENING. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE REEVALUATION OF THE PHYSICAL COORDINATION TESTING CONFIGURATION INCORPORATED ON MOST STATE ALCOHOL INFLUENCE REPORT FORMS, USE OF INEXPENSIVE PORTABLE BREATH TESTING DEVICES BY OFFICERS, EMPLOYMENT OF PREARREST BREATH SCREENING IN SUPPORT OF RATHER THAN AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR POLICE INVESTIGATION, AND COOPERATION WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY IN ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPERIMENTAL BREATH SCREENING PROGRAMS. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE PREFERENTIAL USE OF BREATH TESTING FOR DETERMINING BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS AND INCREASED EFFORTS TO TRAIN PERSONNEL IN ADMINISTERING EVIDENTIARY BREATH TESTS. IN THE VIEW OF THE AUTHORS, BREATHALYZER TESTING PROCEDURES SHOULD FORM THE BASIS FOR A JUDICIAL POLICY OF NOT REQUIRING BREATHALYZER OPERATORS AT COURT HEARINGS, AS THE OPERATOR PRESENCE IS A REQUIREMENT USED BY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TO DISCOURAGE DRUNK DRIVING ARRESTS AND TO BACKLOG CASE LOADS. BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES ARE AWKWARD AND INCONVENIENT FOR OFFICERS TO OBTAIN. FURTHERMORE, THE USE OF MOBILE EVIDENTIARY VANS FOR ANALYSIS IS NEITHER COST-EFFECTIVE NOR EFFICIENT, SO THAT REEVALUATION OF THEIR USE IN ASAP ENFORCEMENT IS PROPOSED. TEXTS OF DRUNK-DRIVING LAWS, REPORT FORMS, AND TESTING SITUATION OVERVIEWS FOR EACH OF THE 22 ASAP'S, AS WELL AS FIGURES RELATING TO TESTING ARE SUPPLIED. --IN ENGLISH.