By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Taking serious note of the frequent road accidents due to drunken driving, the East Khasi Hills traffic Branch on Wednesday introduced a Hand-held Breath Alcohol Analyzer KT-4000P procured recently, to check drunken driving in the city and its adjoining areas which will be implemented immediately from Wednesday.
Informing this here on Wednesday, EKH Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang said two breath analyzer units have been procured at present and the same will be issued to Sadar traffic branch to check on light vehicles and Madanriting traffic branch to keep track of heavy vehicles.
“Depending on the positive results, more will be procured and provided to all the traffic branches”, Kharkrang said adding that the analyzer is the latest equipment imported from Japan at the cost of Rs 55-60 thousands. The same has also been procured by traffic branches of other districts like Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi.
It may be reminded that there was a breath analyzer in stock with the Shillong Traffic Police (STP) but the same remained dysfunctional and had to be kept away until the procurement of new breath analyzers to curb drunken driving.
Referring to the recent accident case at Mawblei which claimed three lives and injured 34 passengers of a Guwahati-bound night bus (ASO1CC – 4009) on January, Kharkrang said that the reason behind the accident was the driver being drunk. “Drivers driving public vehicles should be extra careful because they not only out their lives at stake but also the lives of the passengers”, Kharkrang said.
Meanwhile, highlighting the procedure of the newly-purchased breath analyzer, Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Stephen A Rynjah said any suspect would be asked to blow moderately and continuously into the mouthpiece of the device for more than 3 seconds of which the details will appear on a 12.8cm screen.
“Any person found of having an alcohol level exceeding 30 mg per 100 ml of blood detected by a breath analyzer will be booked under the Motor Vehicle (MV) Act,” Rynjah said adding that to practice hygiene, one pipe will be used for one test.
He also said that the first offence would be imprisonment for a term of 6 months or fine up to Rs 2000 or both, adding on subsequent offence committed within 3 years of the previous offence will be imprisonment which may extend to 2 years or fine up to Rs 3000 or both.
Rynjah also stated that the analyzer can also record registration number of the vehicle, name of the driver, license number, exact place and time of testing and name of the traffic personnel. “A roller present at the bottom of the analyzer will print out the recorded data. The equipment can also store up to 4000 such cases.