Results of an Investigation of the Performance of the Smith and Wesson Breathalyzer Model 1000 Breath Alcohol Tester

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterNHTSA - Behavioral Safety Researchhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15255671980PDFResearch PaperFlores, Arthur L.John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Driver and Pedestrian ProgramsUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Driver and Pedestrian ProgramsEquipment testsAlcohol testsAccuracyDrunk drivingThe performance of breath alcohol test equipment used by police is a major concern of the alcohol countermeasures effort of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A Qualified Products List (QPL) has been established to ensure the effectiveness of Federal funds used to purchase such equipment. Equipment which meets published minimum performance standards (Standard for Devices to Measure Breath Alcohol, Federal Register, Vol. 38, No. 212, November 5, 1973) is placed on the QPL. Equipment on the QPL, after being purchased by police, may be found not to meet the minimum standards or may be found to exhibit an excessive malfunction rate. Such equipment may be removed from the QPL by NHTSA. Following reports of failures to comply with minimum standards and of high malfunction rates, and at the request of NHTSA, the Transportation Sys tern Center (TSC) initiated an investigation of the Smith and Wesson Electronics Breathalyzer model 1000. When this instrument was initially tested by TSC in 1974, it was found to meet the requirements of the standards and was placed on the QPL.129