Breathalyzer Tests Offered To Drinkers In Annapolis: Police

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Annapolis Police Department's educational program to combat drunk driving, dubbed Know Your Limit, will offer free breathalyzer tests on Saturday, March 10. This event is scheduled ahead of St. Patrick's Day to raise awareness regarding drunk driving.

Officers will be located near the Market House from 7 to 11 p.m. to offer the tests to help drinkers gauge their sobriety and distribute literature about drunk driving and available alternatives in Annapolis. Police wil ask passersby to participate in the program. Volunteers will be asked if they feel safe to drive a car, then they will blow into a portable breathalyzer, and told what their blood alcohol level register. They will also receive a card with information on alcohol consumption and options to get home safely.

This is the third year for the program.

"The Know Your Limit program is not intended as a scare tactic. Instead, it’s intended to provide an educational opportunity to encourage groups to designate a sober driver and make good choices," the police department said in a news release. "Officers receive a tremendous amount of positive responses to the program from both those tested and people walking by and asking about the program."

The police department has teamed up with the Annapolis Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to educate people about binge drinking. According to the 2016 Maryland Young Adult Survey on Alcohol, half of 18 to 25 year olds who drink are binge drinking and don’t realize it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, binge drinking is associated with unintentional injuries, violence, and chronic diseases.

Maryland law sets the legal blood alcohol content for a driver below .08 percent, but even at BACs under a .08 drivers can show signs of impairment. Police say many people might not realize how little alcohol it takes to reach a BAC of .08 percent.

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