Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

SSP Ealan Powell - File

IF YOU are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, your driver's licence will automatically be suspended for one year. Several drivers have escaped this punishment in recent years since the breathalyser programme here failed. But, with countless road crashes, injuries and fatalities, a move is now on to implement another programme before year-end.

A Cabinet submission, which allows for the acquisition of breathalyser equipment, is being made by Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips, according to the ministry's director of public affairs and communication, Gillian Haughton.

Haughton says when Cabinet approve the submission, a contract would be signed allowing for the purchase of 20 Introxilyser 8000 (evidence-base machines) and 200 screening devices (hand-held).

Paula Fletcher, executive director of the National Road Safety Council, tells The Sunday Gleaner the acquisition of the equipment is overdue.

"We want it like yesterday," Fletcher says, a comment echoed by the country's chief traffic cop, Senior Superintendent of Police Ealan Powell.

"When the breathalyser programme came in and we were active in breathalysing, the fatality rate on the road was far lower," SSP Powell says.

A breathalyser is a device for estimating blood- alcohol content from a breath sample. Provided for in the Road Traffic Act, law enforcement officers use portable breath-testing machines to find out whether a driver has a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.

Jamaica first implemented the breathalyser system in 1995, but the programme crashed after the equipment fell into a state of disrepair as they were not compatible with the Jamaican climate.

However, those being considered now, according to Fletcher will survive in Jamaica's hot weather and will not become as ineffective as the first set.

The evidence-based machines, which in the first instance, were stored at the police station, will now be able to fit in the patrol cars, allowing the police to confirm whether someone is driving under the influence of alcohol.

Hand-held screening equipment

Persons whom the police believe to be driving under the influence of alcohol will be asked to breathe into the hand-held screening equipment. Should they fail that test, the police will administer a second test, this time with the evidence-based machine in order to confirm the earlier findings.

"We are waiting to hear when it (the submission) will go before Cabinet, and when we will have the equipment down here," Fletcher says.

Adds SSP Powell: "I would love to get it. I am assured that I will get it soon and I am waiting with bated breath," he said.

Haughton, meanwhile, said it was expected that the equipment would be here within six to eight weeks. But the breathalyser equipment is one way in which the police hope they cannot only save lives on the roads, but also significantly reduce the number of people often left incapacitated by crashes.

Senior Superintendent Powell said there was a need for a working central database to track down traffic offenders, as well as legislative changes, which would allow the police to issue tickets for dangerous and reckless driving.

Penalties for drunken driving

For first-time offenders, if you fail the breathalyser test, you can, on conviction, be fined up to $3,000 or six months in prison.

There is an automatic 14 demerit points to your driver's licence, which means suspension of your licence for one year.

If you are caught a second time, you can be fined up to $5,000 or be put into prison for a term of up to 12 months.

Persons who refuse to do the breath test may be fined up to $3,000 or serve a prison term of up to six months.

Road fatalities
Year No. of road deaths

1995 - 367
1996 - 342
1997 - 372
1998 - 356
1999 - 295
2000 - 334
2001 - 361
2002 - 408
2003 - 391
2004 - 360
2005 - 326
2006 - 371
2007 (As at May 31)147