Teachers test new breathalyzer

By Mike Mellon

mell0032@algonquincollege.com

Mike Mellon Photo

Police officers and college faculty are rarely seen boozing around the college in the middle of the day.

But on March 31 some were more than happy to donate their time and livers to science and law enforcement.

 “Pour me another one!” and “I’ll have a double,” were heard from the more than happy volunteers when asked if they would like another drink.

The intoxicating exercise happens at least once every year, when local and provincial police officers gather at Algonquin to familiarize themselves with a specialized piece of equipment, the Intoxilyzer 8000, commonly referred to as a breathalyzer.

“This is a transition course,” Sgt. Patrick Frost said. “[The officers] are training on new equipment.” The older version of breathalyzer police services are using came out into use around 1994.

This year, 46 police officers will be using school faculty and members of law enforcement, among others, as their test subjects between March 31 and April 2.

Those who have volunteered their time will be consuming their drink of choice in a safe and controlled environment, as alcohol is normally not permitted on school property.

 “Testing is done in a tightly controlled and very conservative matter,” said Dr. Rob Langille, who is a toxicologist from the Center of Forensic Sciences and also chair of the Alcohol Testing Committee. “If anything, [the instrument] underestimates the blood-alcohol level (B.A.C.) of a person.”

Dr. Langille was on hand to help explain how the instrument works.

The Intoxilyzer 8000 uses infrared lighting and a series of sensors and tubes to determine the B.A.C. an individual may have in their body.

Infrared lighting emits heat. This heat is absorbed by particles of alcohol a person may have on their breath, which in turn cools down sensors. These sensors then interpret that information by using a series of calculations.

The instrument is so precise it can determine if a person has had a drink within the last minute, stopping the test almost instantly with a loud beep.

Mike Griska, who is a field co-ordinator for the O.P.P. said that he expects the Intoxilyzer 8000 to start being used in the field within two to three months. He also said that Ontario is the first province to have incorporated this new model with its police services.

Officers who are getting re-trained on new equipment or becoming certified for the first time must go through up to fourty hours of in-class theory, as well as go through a minimum of 50 practice scenarios with the volunteers and also complete a written test with no lower than an 80 per cent grade to become certified on a breathalyzer.