Police may soon have a new high-tech tool to help prevent DWI offenders from repeating their mistakes. It's an ankle bracelet that allows police to monitor someone's alcohol level 24 hours a day. Don White is with the Alcohol Monitoring Systems. “So this is the first offender or patient bracelet that tests them consistently.?The idea's similar to a house arrest ankle bracelet. Once a court orders the offender to wear it, probation officers will know when the offender's drinking 24 hours a day. “We're able to test the molecules of ethanol that are coming off the ankle because five percent of everything you drink comes out you're body and we capture that,?White explained.

The bracelet, knowns as SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor), automatically tests the sweat every hour. Even if the offender is at a bar or anywhere away from home, the ankle bracelet tests the alcohol level and when that offender gets home the information is automatically downloaded through a modem. So far the system's been protested in court 60 times but each time police have prevailed.

http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=54123&SecID=2


From:
Aftermath News
Top Stories - September 13th, 2004