>>True enough, but I think it's still up to the cop's discretion to let you go on your way if you pass the field test. They're usually not the one to administer the breathalyser anyways, they call in a specialized unit in a mobile van. (at least they do here in Phoenix)
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>Wow, things have changed.
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>I once swerved to miss a squirrel in DC. (Oh, the jokes that could be made! <g>) The cop only saw the swerve and pulled me over. There was no specialized unit at all. I had to walk a line and blow into the breathalyzer on the spot.
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>The look of utter disappointment on the eager cop's face when the reading was negative was worth the experience. It was all I could do not to bust out laughing. He looked like he'd just learned the truth about the Easter Bunny. LOL
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>Perhaps that kind of experience is why they now have specialized units.
Here it may be more due to the fact that a lot of the police doing the traffic stops are on motorcycle. Not exactly a lot of cargo space to carry much beyond ticket books. ;)
I've been on jury duty for a couple of DUI cases over the years out here, and it was always a motorcycle cop that made the stop, and then a technician in the van that conducts the tests. I think they can actually do blood tests at that time, as one of the defendants had refused the field blood test and would only let their doctor draw blood at the hospital. I think it mainly just to delay the actual blood test until the alcohol was out of their system, but it didn't work, they still got convicted due to the video tape evidence on their actions while in the van.