DUI Task Force funds Portable Breath Testers
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POLSON — To begin the new year, the Polson Police Department has received a welcome gift of 12 new portable breath testers from the DUI Task Force coordinated by Jill Campbell.
The PBTs are used for driving under the influence of alcohol, minor in possession of alcohol or probation violation tests according to Polson Police assistant chief John Stevens. Stevens said the PPD couldn’t thank the DUI Task Force enough for the new PBTs.
Replacing older models which were becoming harder and harder to calibrate, the new PBTs have screens more easily readable by the officer testing, according to Brian Kunz, PPD civilian police assistant. The new PBTs also are capable of a passive test since an alternate “cup” mouthpiece can test whether or not a liquid is alcohol simply by waving it over the container. The cup mouthpiece may also be used on someone who doesn’t want a test or is passed out, Kunz said.
Older PBTs must warm up for 20 minutes before use, and there has to be a 20-minute wait between tests.
The new models still require a 20-minute warm-up, but there is a roadblock feature that allows the PBT to be used again immediately.
Polson Police officers are training online in the use of the PBTs, with some of the devices already in use.
The PBTs cost of $375 each, “a huge whack for a budget” Kunz said.
The money didn’t have to come out of the PPD’s budget, thanks to the DUI Task Force. Campbell said the task force receives money from people in Lake County convicted of a DUI. These folks pay a $100 reinstatement fee with $50 going to the state of Montana and $50 to the DUI Task Force.
