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The Citizen, 2001-11-28, Page 8Moment of truth Sr. Const. Don Shropshall conducts a breathalizer test on Citizen editor Bonnie Gropp, who soon learned. how much was too much. PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN , WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2001. Reporter discovers the reality of breathalizer test By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor A lazy fall afternoon. It's been a day of some self-indulgence, high, lighted by a social luncheon, enjoy- able conversation, good food and a couple of glasses of wine. Now you're ready to head home. Walking to the car, the notion that you perhaps shouldn't get behind the wheel never crosses your mind. You can barely feel those two drinks. After all, you were smart and limited your- self to one an hour so driving certain- ly shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, you could be in for a surprise. Like a good many people, who believe strongly that drinking and driving is not a choice, but do enjoy a drink from time to time, I've often wondered just how much is too much. What would put me over the legal limit? Everyone knows that the capacity for alcohol varies with each person. But also what makes setting some sort of standard difficult is the reality that a number of factors can alter each individual's capacity from one con- sumption to the next. - When it comes to booze and what it can do to you, there are no guaran- tees. Being tired, an empty stomach, your mood, can all contribute to the end result. So, I decided to put myself to the test — with some help from OPP Sr. Const. Don Shropshall. Arriving at my home, the officer introduced me to the Model 900 A breathalizer. He told me how the instrument works, explaining that a potassium bichrornate solution reacts with the alcohol in a person's breath. To prepare the breathalizer for the afternoon ahead, Shropshall first had to give it time to heat up to a temper- ature of 47-53°C. So, as he went about his job, I went about mine and poured myself a drink. What constitutes a drink is one bot- tle of beer, one ounce of liquor or a six-ounce glass of wine. Spritzers, wine mixed with club soda, were to be my drink of choice for the day. I estimated the alcohol portion to be between six and eight ounces. Being a rather diminutive female it was anticipated that reaching a state of legal impairment would not take too long. Peak blood alcohol concen- tration depends on a person's weight because blood volumes differ accord- ing to body weight and size. Therefore, if a 5'10" woman and myself were to consume the same' number of drinks, she may have a lower concentration of alcohol. Men also have an advantage as they traditionally have more muscle than women. Because muscle has larger amounts of blood than fatty tissue, the more muscular or lean you are the greater volume of body water there is in which to distribute the alcohol con- sumed. Women, sad to say, do have more fat then men. Also to be considered is that because I do drink, I would be affect- ed differently, than someone who drinks rarely. At 2:04 p.m. I was ready. My phys- ical and mental state would play a role in how I reacted so I should note that I was well-rested, but suffering a slight headache. Also, I had had a salad to eat at noon. As I sipped, Shropshall continued to prepare the breathalizer. There are 15 steps that must be followed for a breathalizer reading, from beginning to end. The procedure and paperwork are detailed and technically boring. Each step is either initialed or data is recorded. Once the instrument has reached its acceptable temperature, he checks the null metre to see that it's mechanical- ly centred. He tests a gauge compar- ison ampoule, then a gauge test ampoule. Five aerations are completed then the instrument is balanced and the blood alcohol pointer is set to 0.00. Shropshall then conducted a blank test and reset the blood alcohol point- er. If the results exceeded a set per- centage, then Shropshall would have to go back to the gauge test and repeat the steps. In this case we are able to proceed to the next step. He conducts a stan- dard test, reset the blood alcohol pointer and conduct_ a flush. Step 10 is photometrically balanc- ing the instrument, resetting the pointer and doing the first breath test. Following this in a normal situa- tion, the officer would wait three min- utes, check that the reaction was com- plete and reset the pointer. If a person should blow .21 or higher, the officer would have to go back to the gauge test and repeat the process. Another flush is done, then the instrument balanced and the pointer reset. Fifteen minutes, which is the minimum, after the first test a second sample is taken. Should the two tests differ by more than 20 mg per cent, a new ampoule is reused,' steps are repeated and a third test is dont. While this was all very interesting to - watch and learn, I had my own work to do, and I forged on steadfast- ly. Knowing that the general thinking among drinkers is having one an hour should keep you from being impaired, I wanted to stay as close to that as possible, without being rigid. The machine was ready at 2:56 p.m. and my glass was empty. Other than thinking I might be a little chat- tier, I did not feel much effect from the alcohol, which was about what I expected. Shropshall from across the table, noted the odour of alcohol, one of the first symptoms to get a person in trou- ble. He also said my eyes were "a touch watery". > At 3:08 p.m. I took my first breath test, a healthy, unhesitant nine sec- onds of expelled air. The result — 40 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. "The officer," Shropshall said, "would say, `Have a nice day." A little cocky, I sat down with drink number two at 3:15 p.m. Fifty min- utes later, Shropshall pointed. out I appeared more relaxed, the lines in my forehead, caused I presume by my headache which had disappeared, were also gone. However, he said, other than the fact I was a lot more talkative than when he arrived, there were really few.signs I was impaired. "Anyone who didn't know you wouldn't know you were talking more than usual," he said. Admitting to feeling more relaxed, but confident that I would still be fine to drive a car, I took my second test, a hearty 14 seconds. And blew a warning, 80. Two drinks in roughly two hours and I, not a novice , am off the road for 12 hours. Worse news yet, my tester explains, that even if I wait two hours before another drink my blood alco- hol will only have dropped to approx- imately 50. The body eliminates alcohol at a rate of 15 mg per hour. No coffee, no food, no exercise will change that. Being a man won't make a difference, nor will being a tall woman. For all of the alcohol to be gone from my body, six hours would need to pass. On this day, the plan was certainly not to let that happen. At 4:20 p.m. beginning:my third drink, I discussed with my monitor how surprised I was that things had gotten so bad so fast. He admitted that despite the high reading, for appearances sake I would not likely be believed impaired. ""You may not have shown any phys- ical symptoms of impaired driving that might have caused me to stop you," he said. However, he did add that the odour of alcohol would give him reason. At 5:37 p.m. having drained my glass and stood, Shropshall noted a bit of sway in my stance. However, my eyes were actually less watery, and he said, I still spoke fairly well. There was no slurring or stammering. I could do the finger to nose test with no problem and once focussed on the task at foot was able to walk a straight line. However, though I was somewhat in control, though I could only feel minimal effects from the alcohol, my breathalizer reading put me at .14. I was legally unfit to drive. Had I been stopped by an officer I would have failed the roadside test, and been taken to the station. Having consumed- perhaps just a little better than three drinks in three hours, I would have found myself facing a criminal charge for driving a motor vehicle with an excess of 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. This is different than what may refer to a charge of impaired driving as the signs and symptoms of impairment need not exist to be charged to be charged with over 80. If convicted I would have a crimi- nal record for the rest of my life. My insurance would increase about 100 per- cent. I would face a fine in the area of $750 and lose my license for a year. And even though, according to my observer, I "was still not showing the physical symptoms of a person who would be arrested for _impairment." my life would have changed forever. Not just the young When we think of recklessness and irresponsibility we tend to think of immaturity. However, the message about drinking and driving seems to be reaching today's young people much better than the older generation. OPP Sr. Const. Don Shropshall said the majority of drunk drivers arrested in Huron County are adults. "Of 132 arrests made last year for impaired driving, two were under the age of 20," he said. "The biggest group are the people from 35 to the early 50s." Youths have been educated," said Meryl Thomas program co-ordinator of Huron Addiction Services. The older generation is still doing what they did as teens." The problem, she said, is that the chances of getting caught are slim "unless you do something to bring the law's attention to you or come upon a RIDE program." Also, she said, they justify what they , do because they didn't have problems when younger. aircraft. ingly and tion Criminal Code penalties for impaired driving offenses (From Smashed magazine) The impaired driving laws pertain to all motor vehicles, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, boats and The penalities below are the minimum and maximum associated with each offence.They become increas- severe with repeated convictions. In addition judges have considerable discretion in setting terms of probation offenders may be required to seek treatment for alcohol abuse, perform community service or provide restitu- for victims. CRIMINAL CODE PENALTIES FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING OFFENCES I 1st Offence Summary indictment (hiving White Impaired — — _ .. BAC Over .08 2nd Offence Summary (Refusal to Provide Sample) Indictment 3rtht- Offence Summary indictment .._ 12* to 36 months $600 to $2,000 12* to 36 month, $600 no maximum 24 to 60 months tip to S2,000 24 to 60 months no maximum 0 to 6 months 0 to 6U months 14 days to 6 months 14 days to 60 months --- --- 90 days to 6 months 90 days to 60 months -1--- 36 months to up to $2,000 lifetime ban no maximum , Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm ! Indictment up to 10 years no maximum up to 10 year, Impaired [hiving Causing Death Indictment up to In years 1 no max:Munn 1 up to 14 years * The 12-mosiiii prohibition for a first-time °flimsier under the .).11,111141 CMIC of Canada is reducible to a minimum 3-month prohibition with the use of an ignition interlock wistre the program is available. lime Criteinerf Code prohibition period is distinct front any SlkiDillISiOt1 oeriod issued by the enndnce or territory. BAC fast to rise, slow to fall The body can eliminate alcohol at Only a very small amount of alco- a rate of about 15 mg per hour. hol is eliminated through tears, sali- According to OPP Sr. Const. Don va and perspiration." Shropshall that varies little from per- According to Smashed, alcohol is son to person, though a heavy absorbed directly through the stom- drinker may eliminate up to, approx- ach and small intestine. imately 18. "Nothing else will Food, said Shropshall, may slow change that rate," he said. "All the the process of absorption, but it exercise in the world is not going to • won't change the amount to be make your body get rid of the alco- absorbed. hol any faster." As it is with anything we con- Nor will caffeine, sleep or food. sume, alcohol must be broken down According to information from and eliminated. Only time, therefore, Smashed magazine, a publication can lower one's BAC. from Transport Canada, "you can't And the BAC will rise more dance, jog, sing, cry or urinate away quickly than it will fall. alcohol. Contrary to public opinion, For example a person who con- drinking black coffee or taking a sumed three drinks in three hours, cold shower will have no -effect on who had a BAC of 140, would need your BAC (blood alcohol concentra- 10 hours to eliminate all the alcohol tion). from their body.