Drunk driving is a reason for the traffic police to fine a driver and even take his rights away. But the breathalyzers used by the traffic police do not always show the correct results when analyzing the presence of alcohol in the blood. What do representatives of power structures use today and what is the error of these devices?
The letter of the law
We note immediately that the traffic police have the right to conduct a driver’s inspection on the basis of a law that regulates the procedure itself, standards, and requirements for the devices used. The legislation also regulates the breathalyzers used by the traffic police: they must be from the state registry and allowed to work for such purposes. It is noteworthy that each region has its own breathalyzer.
As for the maximum permissible concentration of ethyl alcohol in the blood, the total error when measuring with a breathalyzer should be 0.16 mg per 1 liter of exhaled air, or 0.3 ppm of alcohol in the blood. We offer an overview of the most popular breathalyzer models that are widely used by traffic police in Russia.
Lion Alcolmeter 500
Which breathalyzer uses the traffic police? There are many devices, as we have already said. One of the compact and practical models is the Lion Alcolmeter 500. It has a menu in Russian, a graphic display, and a touch detector. The breathalyzer is able to show the accuracy of the alcohol level to 0.95 mg / l, while the intake of air masses is automatically excluded. Among the distinctive features of this model can be identified:
• saving in the device memory up to 3000 test results;
• the ability to connect to a computer to save the results;
• the ability to connect the device to the printer;
• powered by batteries, which can be changed.
These breathalyzers, used by the traffic police, can be used for medical examination of drivers, including before flights.
Lion Alcolmeter SD-400
In this series, breathalyzers of the latest achievements are presented, and in the basic model there is a screening tester, which guarantees the accuracy of the measuring device. Among the advantages of this device can be identified:
• high sensitivity of the sensor;
• accuracy of measurements;
• test automation;
• portability.
After measurement, the results are displayed on the display, while exhalation parameters are automatically monitored. The internal memory of the device is enough for 500 measurements.
Alcotest 6510
Which breathalyzer uses the traffic police most often? One of the high-tech devices is the Alcotest 6510, which is equipped with an electrochemical sensor and is highly selective for alcohol, showing a quick reaction. It is convenient to use due to its small size - the tester can be safely put into your shirt pocket. The Alcotest 6510 is controlled with just one button, and two more buttons make it possible to correctly and, most importantly, quickly configure the device. The special-shaped mouthpiece is easy to install, even if the lighting level is not the best.
PRO-100
These Chinese breathalyzers, used by the traffic police, are available in several versions and relate to devices that are allowed to be used in Russia. This analyzer conducts non-contact sampling to obtain a preliminary result without the cost of interchangeable mouthpieces. The driver exhales at a distance of 3 cm, and the inspector performs a manual sampling. To accurately measure the alcohol content, the tester should be used with plastic mouthpieces.
The certified traffic police receives this breathalyzer along with a miniature wireless thermal printer, which can be printed on thermal paper immediately after the examination. The printout will contain information about the name of the device, its serial number, date of the last correction of readings, test number, date and time of its conduct.
"Jupiter"
This professional breathalyzer is produced in Russia and allows for rapid measurement of the concentration of alcohol in exhaled air. This device can be used to control traffic safety. Depending on the modification, the device is delivered with and without an external or integrated printer. Today, it is very often uses this traffic police breathalyzer. Reviews about the model indicate the convenience of a touch screen on which the user is given all the necessary information, the simplicity of the menu and settings. Among the advantages is the presence of a printer in more advanced models.
Alkotest-203
This is one of the cheapest instruments that are used to survey drivers. With it, you can measure the level of alcohol in the blood and set the concentration of its vapor in the air that the driver exhales. This is a small-sized and compact device that consumes quite a bit of power and is economical. Despite the affordable price, the device is capable of checking up to 7000 people per year. We also note that once a year the calibration of the traffic police breathalyzer is carried out.
DriveSafe II
This is an affordable model that is easy to use, but subject to a number of rules. Among the advantages of this device, the traffic police note accuracy and convenience, speed and reliability of readings - the error is up to 5%. Moreover, the device can be operated in any weather conditions. This breathalyzer can be used both for personal self-control and for driver checks.
AlcoHunter Professional X
The breathalyzers used by the traffic police have an error that is different, but this model is able to determine the blood alcohol content even in extremely small doses. The introduction of a special integrated anti-cheating system contributes to the fact that there is no need for frequent calibrations, while the results will be highly accurate. The new model is capable of:
- measure ultra-low doses of alcohol concentration;
- work in a wide range of measurements;
- guarantee 100 percent accurate results.
"Dingo A-071"
What breathalyzers does the traffic police use? Among the popular models can be noted a convenient device "Dingo A-071". It is compact in size and guarantees high-precision measurements thanks to the presence of a high-quality semiconductor sensor. The breathalyzer determines the ethanol concentration in the blood and in 2 seconds gives the results that are displayed on the indicator. Among the advantages of this model, the traffic police note:
- high accuracy of measurements in two ways: through the mouthpiece or without it;
- control of exhalation: the breathalyzer will show really correct results, since it has the function of controlling exhalation;
- Russian-language menu;
- the possibility of alternative nutrition;
- ease of maintenance.
These professional devices can be used during express control of the driver.
"STSI-02"
This is a professional breathalyzer, which is designed for mass inspections. Thanks to the spectrometric sensor, the highest reliability of the readings is ensured while maintaining the test speed, and the device is able to respond to ethanol vapors without attention to other impurities. The tester is able to work continuously for 8 hours. The most important advantage of the model is the approval of the Ministry of Health, which is why it is widely used in official surveys. The device is easy to use: all messages are displayed, just follow them. The exhalation should last about 6 seconds for the test to pass correctly.
How and when is it applied?
According to the rules of the road, a traffic police officer has the right to stop the driver and conduct not only document verification, but also an examination using a breathalyzer. At the same time, drivers should remember that you only need to breathe in a special device that has an electronic display and can print the readings. The use of the traffic police breathalyzer is as follows:
• a police officer informs the driver about how the survey will go;
• a driver is presented with a certificate that shows the conformity of the device used to the standards and requirements of GOST;
• The driver must make sure that the device is in a complete package.
Verification is carried out only in the presence of two witnesses with documents proving their identity. In other cases, police actions are illegal.
What is the error?
Of course, breathalyzers are modern devices that have unique properties. But it is far from always correct what the traffic police breathalyzer shows, since you need to remember about the error. Moreover, even the most expensive device can give an error, and permissible deviations can always be found in the technical passport. The error shows the device for various reasons. For example, it may respond to strongly smelling substances or non-alcoholic components. Errors in the readings may occur due to improper use of the device:
• the mouthpiece was purged after smoking;
• the permissible temperature mode was not observed (high or low air temperature excludes the possibility of using a breathalyzer).
The permissible error of the traffic police breathalyzer is a maximum of 10%, therefore, during a medical examination, air is taken from the driver twice.
We described the most popular models of breathalyzers that are used on the territory of Russia, and talked about how to behave the driver if the police officer plans to check him for the presence of alcohol in the blood. But best of all do not drive, having drunk: so you will avoid a possible dangerous situation on the road and will be calm for yourself and others.