TRAFFIC

Nampa officers can draw blood to check alcohol levels

- Idaho Statesman

Published: 09/10/09

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So an officer can draw blood on the street? No, an officer won't be standing beside a suspect's car with a gun on his hip and a syringe in his hand. But if anyone suspected of impaired driving in Nampa refuses a Breathalyzer test, the officer at the scene can take the suspect to the police station's "phlebotomy chair."

What's a phlebotomy chair? It's a place to sit while an officer draws blood to determine whether someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It's basically the same drill breath-test refusers went through before, but now police don't have to take them to a hospital to get a blood sample.

Why the change? The new program saves time and money and gives a "truer measure," because blood can be drawn almost immediately when someone is suspected of being impaired, said Sgt. Matt Pavelek of the Nampa Police Department. All training and equipment costs were covered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a pilot program based on a system used in Arizona.

Is it only in Nampa? At least for now. Five Boise officers have been trained, but that department has not yet launched the program, spokeswoman Lynn Hightower said. Nampa has 10 trained officers - five who graduated Wednesday and five who completed training a month ago and have since drawn blood from about four suspects each, Pavelek said.

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TRAFFIC

Nampa officers can draw blood to check alcohol levels

- Idaho Statesman

Published: 09/10/09

IdahoStatesman.com