Significant problems and serious errors with the devices and procedures used for roadside suspensions and drunk-driving charges have been identified in internal RCMP audits.
Although conducted last year, the findings of the internal quality assurance reviews — “completed in random to ensure that units/detachments are correctly calibrating and documenting the Approved Screening Devices” — are alarming.
“Errors with the ASD Accuracy check procedure are serious in nature and could have large ramifications on the use of ASD’s (sic) in Criminal Code investigations and also on their use in the IRP (Immediate Roadside Prohibition) Program and the program as a whole in British Columbia,” wrote Const. Ron Miciuk, the provincial impaired driving co-ordinator who conducted the audits with regional co-ordinators.
“It was important to discover the extent of the errors and whether or not the errors could bring the ASD Program, the IRP Program or any Criminal Code impaired driving investigation into disrepute both legally and ethically.”