Half of police breathalysers don't work

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Half of police breathalysers don't work

Published: 21 Dec 2012 at 13.44
Online news: Local News

Police scrambled to defend their alcohol testing programme after scientists reported that almost half of the breathalysers they tested gave erroneous readings or did not work at all.

File photo by Sunthorn Pongpao

The breathalysers used by traffic police are up to standard because they are inspected every three to six months, said Vorasak Nopsittiporn, the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

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DonAleman
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Discussion 18 : 23 Dec 2012 at 22.4018
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Percentage about right both 52 % of detectors and 50%
of the policemen don't work or work poorly.
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canuck
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Discussion 17 : 23 Dec 2012 at 09.5117
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"If a breathalyser gives inaccurate readings, it is replaced immediately, he said on Friday."

What he means is, if somebody who is well connected blows to high the device will be asumed to be misfunctioning.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 16 : 22 Dec 2012 at 08.5516
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Let us hope that the normal inefficiency of Thai agencies
does not extend to the airports. Many planes have 300 or more passengers
and a recent scare at Phuket, diverting/delaying some 21 flights and
blocking their single runway, could have been much worse.
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ringmaster
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Discussion 15 : 21 Dec 2012 at 22.1115
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From the makers of the GT200 bomb detector we now have the GT200 breath analyzers.
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mogy71
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Discussion 14 : 21 Dec 2012 at 21.5914
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Defense lawyers in many western countries would have a field day in court with this news.
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Victor
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Discussion 13 : 21 Dec 2012 at 20.4113
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As I've asked a couple of years before, who actually carry out the calibration on the breath analyzers used by the police?
Now we know.
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topcat_bk
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Discussion 12 : 21 Dec 2012 at 18.0912
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It seems highly advisable then to insist on being taken to a hospital for a blood test after a DUI stop. I believe this is an option under Thai law. One would hope, of course, that the hospital's lab is competent and is not sharing revenue with the arresting officers.
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drsmith
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Discussion 11 : 21 Dec 2012 at 18.0611
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I would think a 500,000,000 thb budget would solve this problem, don't you? Better make it 600,000,000 just to make sure.
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Kee-nee-oh
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Discussion 10 : 21 Dec 2012 at 17.1110
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Why is this news? This should be taken as read.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 9 : 21 Dec 2012 at 17.109
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They are supposed to read high. Otherwise there would be no reason to pay a "fine".
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Half of police breathalysers don't work | Bangkok Post: news