LTO to deploy more personnel, 400 breath analyzers to catch drunk drivers

With Christmas parties in full swing, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will deploy at least 400 breath analyzers and personnel to catch motorists who will insist on driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the LTO issued a show cause order (SCO) against a female motorist, who was shown in a viral video while allegedly drinking liquor.

“Haharap siya sa pagdinig dito sa LTO para patunayan niya na hindi alak ang iniinom niya,” said LTO chief Markus Lacanilao. 

(She must face a hearing here at the LTO to prove that what she was drinking was not liquor.)

The LTO is expecting similar cases of motorists driving under the influence of alcohol, especially with Christmas parties and merry-making in full swing during the holidays.

It will deploy 400 units of breath analyzers across the country with more units arriving this month to catch drunk drivers or those who insist on driving after drinking alcohol.

“Once na makagawa sila ng aksidente o nakagawa sila ng violation sa kalye, maraming pewisyo ang nagagawa. Minsan buhay pa ang nawawala,” Lacanilao said.

(Once they cause an accident or commit a violation on the road, a lot of harm is done. Sometimes even lives are lost.) 

How does the analyzer work? According to Medical News Today, a medical website, a breath analyzer measures the alcohol content level in a person’s body through the air that they exhale.

In the Philippines, a blood alcohol concentration of .05 in a motorist is already considered drunk driving by the LTO.

Drunk driving is a crime under Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The rules are stricter for drivers of public utility vehicles and motorcycles, as they must have absolutely zero alcohol in their body. 

The blood alcohol concentration will eventually go down or disappear in four to eight hours.

“Kapag nakainom na po, magpahinga para bumababa o mawala ang blood alcohol content,” said LTO Field Enforcement Division Central Office officer-in-charge Joel Ybañez. 

(If you already had alcohol to drink, rest for a while so that the blood alcohol content will go done or be gone completely.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News