Police breathalyser scrutiny

The Dräger breathalyers (the brand of breathalyser used with the Australian Police) are under scrutiny at the moment in Cape Town, South Africa since the Western Cape High Court has dismissed a drunken driving charge after finding problems with the Dräger breathalyser test performed. 

The man, 28-year-old Clifford Hendricks was charged with drunken driving in January 2010. 

Hendricks challenged the validity of the Dräger breathalyser test when it found him to be four times over the legal limit. Dräger units have been brought into question on several occasions and the National Prosecuting Authority brought the breathalyser to court to prove its reliability. 

Judge Nathan Erasmus found that a person's body temperature, or whether he wore dentures, could lead to a false reading on the Dräger. The court said they were in complete support of the devices and even encouraged the use. In future the test will be as quick as a driver being stopped in car, doing a breath test and then being taken to a center for a further test.

*Alcosense Breathalysers