Remarks by Premier Alison Redford Tuesday that an impaired driving law may be on ice while bars eye breath-testing devices, is getting mixed reviews from cops and establishment owners.
Const. David Green of the Edmonton Police Service said the only reason he can see putting breath-testers in bars would be for people’s education.
“The big thing people need to get through their heads is under 80 (milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood) does not mean you’re fit to drive,” said Green, a certified breath technician with EPS’ impaired countermeasures unit.
Green provides an example of someone on antidepressants and cold medicine who then drinks, but registers a BAC of 79, which is currently below the legal number of impairment. The new legislation brings that number down to 50, or 0.05.
“It’s just an arbitrary number,” said Green, noting the mix would make a driver impaired.
Green said the unsanctioned machines would likely make it tough to gauge accuracy, whereas police breathalyzers have internal and external checks and certified operators.
Mike Yasinski, president of Hudsons Canadian Hospitality, said he’s met with government twice already on the new law and there has been no talk of bar breath-testers.
Yasinski said he fears the machines could be a way for drivers to shirk culpability.
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