Maintaining the peace in times of crisis is what we ask of police officers. Our duty as members of the public is to abide by the law and to assist the police so they may focus their limited resources effectively. Unfortunately, some people during this difficult time will nevertheless drive while they are impaired by alcohol. Police officers will face the task of having to investigate impaired driving scenarios. This poses particular risks.
In January 2015, police in BC began using the Alco-Sensor FST as their roadside Approved Screening Device. This device uses a mouthpiece similar to a straw. One can blow or suck on it. The mouthpiece exhausts on the top of the device. This poses risks for both the user and the person asked to blow.
In our current pandemic era, the risk may be greater to the officer operating the device. Breath typically contains aerosolized spittle which may contain Coronavirus pathogen. The breath is vented under pressure up above the device near the officer and with the aerosolized matter landing back on the device and the officer’s hand. This poses a significant risk to the officer.
Although the mouthpiece is sanitary, the device itself may have pathogens on the two ports or in the tubes running to the sensors. If a subject sucks on the mouthpiece, which is a common occurrence as people try to inhale for the purpose of blowing, they may suck in material deposited there by a previous subject.
Some suggestions
We have made two quick video with some recommendations for safer breath testing. We are not physicians or scientists. We have studied these devices and we have some expertise. We are relying on information gathered from the manufacturer’s website, other manufacturers’ websites and from our own experience using these devices thousands of times. We have also incorporated some points from news articles. Our goal here is to protect police officers and drivers in circumstances where the police are conducting breath tests.
One important note: in the video Paul suggests that 12-24 hours after cleaning one could reasonably assume that the pathogens would no longer pose a threat to later users. This was based on a study reported out of Germany. A later more thorough study found that COVID-19 may still be a threat up to 3 days later on plastic surfaces. It stands to reason that no ASD should be used without being cleaned, dried and left to sit for more than three days after any single use.