No RBT on drivers as breathalyzer machine is down

Police has stopped carrying out Random Breath Testing for alcohol on drivers as its breathalyzer machine is currently experiencing fault.

Over the busy festive season, police were unable to unleash the machine – even now – as it is yet to be fixed.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) National Capital and Crime Prevention, Mr Simpson Pogeava Operation Commander COVID-19 said recently that in the absence of RBT, police were still able to arrest people on the road for driving unlicensed vehicles and some without valid driver’s licenses.

“We have not carried out RBT because there was a small fault to our machine,” he said.

Pogeava was hopeful that it would be fixed soon so that they can carry out RBT checks again on the roads.

RBT tests were often used on the roads and applied to drivers during a traffic accident. The results were usually part of evidence in court cases against drunk drivers.

Meanwhile police could not give details on when the machine would be fixed and what time it is expected back on the road.