Roadblock stops drivers to collect saliva and blood samples

[JonasEggeater]

Thanks for the link. For everyone else, page 10 of this PDF: http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811237.pdf goes over what’s done, and in which order.

Observational data:

The interviewer noted easily observable information about the
driver and vehicle and recorded those data (e.g., type of vehicle, number of
passengers, seat belt usage, gender of driver, and likely age range of driver) into an
electronic handheld Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

First PAS reading:

The interviewer obtained an initial passive alcohol sensor
(PAS) reading for the driver and recorded the result into the PDA.

Consent for interview:

The interviewer briefly explained the purpose of the
interview and that it was both voluntary and anonymous. The interviewer
attempted to obtain verbal consent for continuing. If the driver refused, he/she was
counted as a refusal and the interviewer asked for a breath sample before leaving
the site. Drivers were offered financial incentives to provide oral fluid and blood
samples, and for completing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) screening.
Additionally, at each site, a small sampleof those who initially refused were
offered an additional incentive of $100 to participate in the study.

A few points of interest:

• The above is the order that the “Methodology” PDF gives. So the first PAS screening is taken before consent was given, and even if the drivers refused to participate in the survey, they were asked to give breaths samples before departing. I wonder if the breath sample was optional. I’d like some more explicit wording.

• I’m skeptical of an “anonymous” study which requires a “Driver Information Card.”

• It’s vague about “If the driver had a BAC above .05, we insured he/she got safely home.” How did they get the driver home? Was it at his own expense? Did it involve a night in protective custody first? Just curious.

Edit:

• Also, the license plate number is very easily observable information about the vehicle, and nothing states that this information is not collected.