These vending machine style breathalizer are being installed in bars around Sioux Falls. Do they work? KSFY puts them to the test.
Story Created:
May 21, 2008 at 10:35 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 22, 2008 at 8:58 AM CDT
Pop. Candy. Blood alcohol content level?
Some vending machines provide just that.
Bottle after bottle, the drinks are flowing at Tinner's Bar and Grill Wednesday evening. It is one of many bars that have installed a vending machine style breathalizer test, but how accurate can it be?
To test it out, we called the Sioux Falls Police Department to help us with a little experiment. When Tinner's manager Maria Cade finishes a glass of wine, we plug the machine with four quarters.
Maria huffs and puffs.
Seconds later, officer Greg Slaven brings out his blood alcohol content tester. It's the same one administered to driver's during roadside sobriety tests.
Within seconds, a side by side comparison shows that the machine is dead-on. Maria blew .04.
Officer Slaven said these kinds of machines might give people an idea of what their limit is. He said, "Everybody's a little bit different as to how much they can have before they're impaired, but this would be a great guide."
It is a guide that Maria hopes will help curb drunk driving. She said, "People think they're okay to drive when they're not, so this is a nice checkpoint."
KSFY's Drew Sandholm can be reached by phone at (605) 373-7372 or bye-mail.
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