Driving Stoned or Drunk is Stupid, but is an "Alco-Buddy Test" enough ? asks Ashburn drunk driving crash victim lawyer Doug Landau
Prosecuting drunk and stoned drivers in both criminal and civil courts, injured victims' lawyer Doug Landau was interested in the "Alco-Buddy" breathalizer machine found in a restaurant near the Virginia State Capitol.
This one’s obvious. But as an injury lawyer who sees firsthand the devastating effects of drunk driving car crashes, bike wrecks and truck accidents, I was pleased to see a device at a Richmond restaurant recently. The “Alco-Buddy ” is an alcohol breathalyzer vending machine, installed in establishments that serve alcohol.
Drunk driving is a real and present danger that affects everyone. All too often people leave establishments after drinking “just a few drinks” and falsely believe that they are safe to drive when they are, in fact, legally intoxicated. Alco-Buddy provides patrons with access to an ALCOHOL BREATHALYZER TEST, allowing them to gauge their own B.A.C. (blood alcohol content) before they ever get behind the wheel.
Advantages of a “Breathalyzer Machine”:
* Is an intelligent, simple and discreet way to check your B.A.C. (blood alcohol content)
before venturing out on the roads.
* May reduce the number of impaired or intoxicated people driving.
* Assists educate patrons to moderate and appropriately pace their drinking.
* Sets the tone and shows that the establishment cares about their customers.
As a former prosecutor in the Florida State’s Attorney’s Office, I thought the last point was interesting. I had several questions in my own mind after seeing this machine: Does anyone really know when they are impaired ? Would the results from this machine be a valid defense if the patron is later arrested on a DUI or DWI charge ? What if the customer blows into the machine before the alcohol has gotten into her system, and their B.A.C. is on the way up on the way to the car ? What is the margin of error ?