Published: July 17, 2008 08:34 am      

W’burg PD gets 12 new PBT devices

Technology will enable better detection of alcohol

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

Members of the Williamsburg Police Department now have a new weapon to use in the battle against those driving under the influence of alcohol.

In May, the department received notification regarding the acquisition of a grant through the Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (KY-ASAP). The grant funds were used to purchase state-of-the-art devices known as Portable Breath Testing devices, which were put into service on Tuesday.

Williamsburg Police Department Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said the department’s purchase of these new P.B.T. devices would not have been possible without the grant from KY-ASAP.

“We’re really thankful for the grant and the assistance we got with that,” he said.

The grant received was for around $3,700. The normal price of the P.B.T. devices is $525, but the department received a state discount allowing for the purchase of 12 of them. Each officer will be in possession of one of the devices while on duty.

“What we’re going to do is replace the others we have,” Jackson said.

These new P.B.T.s have a mechanism that is capable of detecting the presence of alcohol in the general vicinity of the device and will allow police to more quickly and efficiently detect if alcohol is either in a vehicle or has been consumed by the driver.

“You can detect if they have alcohol in a cup, for example,” Jackson said. “These are just so much more advanced than the ones we had. We got the grant so we wanted to get the best.”

Williamsburg police are confident these new devices will not only aid them in busting drunk drivers, but may help curb the crime.

“This is not only great for the department, but even greater for the community and citizens of Williamsburg,” Jackson said. “This is a tool we need in the city of Williamsburg against drunk driving to make the streets safer.”