The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service has a new Random Breath Testing (RBT) vehicle to reduce turnaround times on the processing and prosecution of drunk drivers.
The midi-van is equipped with an Evidentiary Breath Analyzer Equipment (EBAE) device that provides results on the spot and eliminates the need for blood samples.
“This has been some time in the making, and I am thrilled that it is finally a reality,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith. “The RBT vehicle is effectively a mobile testing centre using specialised equipment that provides the necessary evidence for a drunk driving case. Having this vehicle on hand during roadblocks will not only help cut down on time spent processing drunk driving suspects following their arrest, but will also accelerate court proceedings.”
Currently, a driver who is stopped at a roadblock and is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol is arrested by a police officer. The suspect can be requested to give a voluntary breath sample into a handheld breath screening device to further confirm the officer’s initial suspicion. The suspect is then taken to the nearest police station to register a case docket for drinking and driving and is required to provide an evidentiary breath sample using a prescribed EBAE device that is housed at the Shadow Centre in Athlone.
If the suspect refuses to provide a breath sample they are taken to a facility where an evidentiary blood sample is taken by a qualified prescribed person such as a registered nurse, district surgeon or doctor.
“The delays associated with blood samples and the impact on the effective prosecution of suspects is a longstanding issue and a great source of frustration,” said Smith. “Very often, cases are abandoned because the blood samples take so long to process. The evidentiary breath analyzer equipment provides results on the spot, which fast-tracks completion of the docket, getting the case to court and ensuring a prosecution. To now have this equipment in a roving vehicle that can be deployed at a roadblock just makes life that much easier.”
Blood samples will continue to be used; for example in cases where the driver is unable to provide a breath sample at the scene due to injury in a collision.
Photo credit: City of Cape Town
