Unknown OPP Term

[MetalCarnage]

Hey, was wondering if anyone could fill me in. Was listening to OPP yesterday as i came home from work around 4-5pm and was hearing a lot of chatter from both the Aurora and Port Credit units about meeting up somewhere on the 400/401. Multiple times both the units and dispatch made reference to "The location of the Dra-ger(sounded like)" What i got from it all is that Aurora was meeting Port Credit units somewhere to pass of the "Drager" and dispatch kept relaying "the plan" and location of this "Drager".

So i basically understood what was going on, seemed like an escort basically....however, what is a Drager? Code name for something or am i just behind on my OPP lingo a bit?

 

[mikewazowski]

http://www.draeger-safety.com/index.html

Roadside breathalyzer unit.

 

[MetalCarnage]

Thanks!

Well, never would have guessed that one....that was a lot of radio chatter for a breathalyzer, i was expecting something a little more dramatic.

Thanks again Mike....

 

[Chrome69]

Mike maybe you can answer this? Why don't they carry more Roadside breathalyzer units? Is it a cost factor? I know Peel doesn't carry them, they usually take the person in question to Airport div for testing... Are they that expensive?

 

[Forts]

They don't seem to be *that* expensive. Take a look at this site which shows pricing for various models: http://www.testsymptomsathome.com/als21.asp. Thru this company they range anywhere from $70 to a little over $1000 each. That of course would still add up pretty quickly to put one in every cruiser, but not too badly. Maybe they feel that each cruiser doesn't need one as someone with one on board usually isn't too far away. On the same note, I've never understood why each cruiser doesn't have spike strips. Seems every time I hear a pursuit, they guy with the strips is the farthest away.

 

[Muxlow]

A fair number of chatham kent cars have spike belts in their trunks. They never get used much either

 

[jgardhouse]

The cost is probably in the re-calibration (I'm guessing every month - as this is what is required for ignition interlock in Ontario) plus training officers, and auditing thier proficiency every so often..

 

[I_10_92]

In order to administer a 'roadside' the officer has to keep their certification up to date. Along with that, there are maybe only a handful of 'breath techs' on any given shift. The other factor is cost of the units.

So combine the two, officer training (and the costs of such) as well as the acctual breath unit's cost, and that is likely why.

Also, by having each car with a breath machine might/ could bring the number of cars off the road. Therefore having a specific unit at the station with a land based machine, they are able to just bring the 'suspect' in and have them tested there. It would eliminate much of the paper work and all that jazz. Not ever officer has the chance to use a breath machine on a daily basis.

Thats just my view on it.

 

[mikewazowski]

So combine the two, officer training (and the costs of such) as well as the acctual breath unit's cost, and that is likely why.

We're talking the roadside screening devices, not the official units back at the detachments.

Draegers are basically point and blow devices. Simple pass/fail/warn devices any officer can use to determine whether a driver needs a more detailed test back at the detachment.

We're talking a certificate that might be used in a court of law and a roadside test would never stand up.

 

[I_10_92]

Oh ok. It was my understanding that no matter what the 'screening' device is a certification would be needed. Once a roadside is done with the 'point and blow' is done, and say a fail comes up, thats when they take the person to the station for the other test correct?

 

[polo_762]

Mike maybe you can answer this? Why don't they carry more Roadside breathalyzer units? Is it a cost factor? I know Peel doesn't carry them, they usually take the person in question to Airport div for testing... Are they that expensive?

Any time Peel is testing their radios and logging at the beginning of shift and they say "Alert on board" they are carrying a breathalyzer that 'ballparks' the alcohol level in the person's body. The exact levels are verified by an Intoxilyzer or something similar back at a division.