TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- How would you like to go to work and get drunk on the taxpayers' dime? That's exactly what happened for 15 Florida Department of Law Enforcement employees who were testing out the state's breathalyzer machines.
We first told you about it last month, but now we have obtained video of the test. FDLE taped the entire test except when the employees, who are law enforcement officers, were drinking.
However, the effects of the alcohol are quite apparent on the video.
Before any drinking started, the FDLE test subjects took a breath test to confirm they had no alcohol in their body, then underwent blood pressure tests and a series of physical tests.
The subjects were then given the alcohol and Doritos.
Following what the researcher said was enough alcohol to be over the legal limit, the subjects took another breathalyzer test and then were given a blood test. The researchers wanted to find out of the breath test and blood test showed the same results, which essentially turned out to be the case.
As the FDLE employees started taking the breath tests following the alcohol, the noise level in the room increased considerably. The subjects were much more jovial and one employee couldn't stop laughing while taking the test.
The FDLE decided it needed to do the experiment, because several breathalyzer results were thrown out in Sarasota as experts have shown the machines were out of calibration. One estimate is that 40 percent of the breathalyzers in Florida were out of calibration.
However, the FDLE says it doesn't matter if the breath level was out of calibration and that the blood test proved that.
It may be a moot point. In December, a 4-judge panel in Sarasota was presented evidence about the test and the initial indication is the judges may have concluded the test was not scientifically accurate.
The judges are expected to rule soon about the reliability of the breathalyzer machines. If they rule the units cannot be trusted, it could change the way law enforcement agencies throughout the state deal with those who are arrested for DUI.