State Patrol unveils new breath test device

SEATTLE - The Washington State Patrol has unveiled the next-generation of breath testing instruments designed to help remove impaired drivers from the streets and highways.

The Patrol spent nearly four years making sure the Draeger Alcotest 9510 instrument would be fit for use.

"This is another step in our agency's long-standing effort to remove dangerously impaired drivers from our state's highways," State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste said. "We've made great strides toward our goal of zero annual traffic fatalities, and this device will help move the needle even further."

The Draeger instrument will replace the National Patent Analytical Systems DataMaster that has been in use since the 1980s. It is no longer manufactured, and parts are difficult to find.

"The Draeger instrument will produce the same accurate results as our previous instrument, but with far less maintenance," said Lt. Rob Sharpe, commander of the Patrol's Impaired Driving Section. "They are also easier for officers to operate, and help speed the processing of DUI suspects."

The biggest difference from previous generations of breath testing devices is that the Draegers utilize a dry gas standard instead of a liquid solution to verify that the instrument is working properly. For years, liquid solutions have had to be mixed locally by scientists, monitored for temperature, and checked regularly by technicians.

The Draeger's dry gas contains a known concentration of alcohol, allowing the instrument to verify that a suspect's breath alcohol is being measured accurately and reliably.

The Patrol received legislative approval in 2010 to switch to the dry gas unit. The Patrol believes the instruments will win the confidence of judges and juries who will rely on them in court.

"The Draegers would have been fine right out of the box for simply testing breath alcohol levels," Sharpe said. "We wanted to make them fit into our state's DUI enforcement program so that officers can produce better reports, faster, and get back into service."

One challenge in reducing impaired driving fatalities is the time it takes to process a DUI arrest. If that time can be shortened, police officers can get back on the road and spot additional impaired drivers.

"If the device detects a problem, it shuts itself down and sends an e-mail to our office," Sharpe said. "The test can't proceed, but a technician can be dispatched to fix the problem."

The Patrol expects to begin deploying the new Draeger instruments in time for the December holiday season. The first instruments will be deployed in Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

The Patrol owns and maintains all the state's breath testing instruments used by police for DUI enforcement.

In 2013, traffic collisions killed 440 people. Of those deaths, 188 involved a driver who was impaired.

Washington's Strategic Highway Safety Plan is called "Target Zero," and aims to completely eliminate all traffic fatalities by the year 2030.