Won’t touch your lips: Kolkata police SOP for drink-driving testing

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Traffic Police, who bought 50 new high-tech baton breathalyzers that enable a cop to carry out the test by standing 5m from the motorist, has asked all traffic guards to avoid straw-based breathalyzers at all costs.“Each of the 25 guards — Bhangar will soon get its quota — has been provided two new breathalyzers. Now, we have asked that except for cases of malfunction or exceptional situations where there are checking at three points in the guard, the old breathalyzers should not be used at any cost,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar. An SOP is being issued in this regard, said senior officers. Once the guards adopt the new technique, motorists will no longer have to blow into the device. The new hand-held breath alcohol analyzers will have an electrochemical/fuel cell sensor that can detect whether a person is drunk or not when brought near their mouth. The reading will be recorded and signed by the motorists to put an end to all debates on readings.The use of the new devices was proving beneficial for cops too. “Not only are we not being forced to buy straws, this system is faster. Also, with the system generating the reading immediately, challenges by motorists have come down,” said an OC of a traffic guard in the added areas. “This system is not only hygienic, it also saves on time. I have seen cops use this device for the past several years in central Kolkata. It is good that the rest of the city can enjoy the benefits of the new breathalyzer now,” said Tirthankar Mukherjee, an IT executive residing at Sakherbazar. A handful of traffic guards, which are in charge of areas like Dalhousie, Park Street and Park Circus, have been using baton breathalyzers since 2019. “We are in discussion with the transport department to procure 50 more new breathalyzers. We will be able to increase enforcement once those equipment arrive,” said another officer.“Over the pandemic times, some breathalyzers have stopped working and we found that the old technology was not Covid-safe. These 50 breathalyzers are likely to solve the problem,” another officer said. The new breathalyzers comes with various features. “They will have electrochemical/fuel cell sensors. They have a traffic baton with lights. Their battery capacity allows testing for eight hours at a stretch. Its measurement range is 80mg/100mlBAC and can operate in a temperature range of -5°C to 45°C,” said an officer.