B.C. adjusts breathalyzers' warning range
CBC News
Posted: Nov 19, 2010 11:58 AM PT
Last Updated: Nov 19, 2010 12:15 PM PT
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B.C. will recalibrate all its breathalyzers to eliminate any errors for readings in the warning range, police said Friday.
The Approved Screening Devices, known as roadside breathalyzers, will be reset to give a warning reading for a blood alcohol level of 0.06 instead of 0.05 to prevent false readings, the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police said.
The recalibration will take 10 days to complete and during that time roadside suspensions will not be given to drivers who caught in the warning range, said Vancouver police Deputy Chief Warren Lemcke.
"The public should be very aware that the only thing that has changed here is that for 10 days only, while these are readjusted, those three-, seven- and 30-day suspensions under the immediate roadside prohibition will not take place unless you blow a fail," said Lemcke.
"That's it — everything else stays the same. And in 10 days, it's business as usual," he said.
The move follows comments by the province's Solicitor General Rich Coleman that police should be using more discretion when the apply tough new penalties brought in by the province earlier this year, and a promise to review the enforcement of the regulations.
The new rules introduced roadside penalties for anyone caught with a blood alcohol level over .05, leading many people to conclude they could not legally drive after one drink. That prompted complaints from the food and beverage industry.
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