Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert has called on motorists to be on guard for this month's initial phase of breathalyser testing and its full implementation for Carnival 2010. Imbert expects that the first stage of breathalyser-testing in Trinidad and Tobago will begin at strategic locations on Christmas Eve. "The target date I have asked my staff and the police to achieve is December 24," he said. He also set Carnival 2010 as the proposed deadline for the full implementation of testing throughout the country. "I would say by Carnival next year, all those who want to go and get drunk better be careful because it would not be a good idea to drink and drive because apart from the physical danger, I am certain you will be caught and you will be charged," Imbert said at yesterday's post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann's.
"I do not see any difficulties whatsoever in the full implementation of this system and I think we had all better be on guard because it is going to start in this month, December, and I think for Carnival next year it will be in full swing." Imbert dismissed concerns that staffing constraints in the local police force will obstruct the implementation of the testing. "I do not forsee any manpower problems in terms of locating this 140 or 200 policemen to do this testing," he said.
He explained that an initial order was placed with a breathalyser supplier earlier in the week for the 140 Alco-Sensor FSTs and 15 RBT IVs. According to Imbert, the Alco-Sensor FST, a pocket-sized, hand-held breath alcohol tester, will be used for sobriety tests in the field. He added that the RBT IV, and Alco Sensor IV with a microprocessor printer that stores test information and produces an automatic hard copy of the test results, will be used for the evidential tests at police stations. The minister noted that an RBT IV will be located in each of the nine divisional police stations in Trinidad and Tobago and the other six will be used at strategic locations.