Kolkata Police strengthens drink-driving enforcement with new contactless breathalyzers

Kolkata: Lalbazar is set to strengthen its campaign against drink-driving by asking even local police stations to carry out checks on motorists and bikers at night. According to police sources, the headquarters is equipping local police stations with contactless breathalysers.
"Local police are often part of the joint nakas. It is often found that enough checks cannot be completed for want of machines. In addition, local cops have a fairer idea of lanes and bylanes taken by motorists and bikers to avoid cop nakas. Hence, it is important that they too have the means to carry out the necessary anti-drink drive checks. At present, when local cops nab motorists who drive in a drunken condition, they need to requisition traffic cops. Precious time gets lost in this process. The present step is cut down the lengthy process, especially following accidents," explained a senior officer at Lalbazar.
In this regard, the police have initiated the procurement of 100 new contactless breathalysers for Rs 35 lakh, with 50 devices already delivered and the remaining expected this week.
Currently, each of the 10 divisions within the Kolkata Police's traffic department operates with just a few breathalysers, primarily used during night checks. The expansion will enable individual police stations to conduct independent drink-drive checks, substantially increasing the coverage and effectiveness of enforcement efforts.
"This initiative will allow police stations to take necessary action in any area, significantly strengthening our operations against drink-drivers," said a senior police official who requested anonymity due to departmental protocol.
The new contactless technology represents a notable improvement over traditional breathalysers, which required drivers to blow into a pipe — a method that often led to disputes between officers and suspected drunk drivers. The contactless devices, first introduced in mid-2023, allow drivers to simply blow in front of the analyser, making the process more hygienic and reducing confrontations.
Current statistics show that traffic police apprehend an average of 25-35 drunk drivers daily through regular nighttime operations conducted by traffic guards. The implementation of these new devices is expected to increase these numbers significantly as police stations will be able to conduct independent operations alongside traffic guard checkpoints.
Last year, Kolkata Traffic Police provided three new high-tech baton breathalysers, which enable a cop to carry out the test by standing 5m from the motorist, to each of the 26 traffic guards to avoid straw-based breathalysers at all costs.
The hand-held breath alcohol analysers to be used by local police stations will have an electrochemical/fuel cell sensor that can detect whether a person is drunk or not when brought near their mouth. The reading will be recorded and signed by the motorists to stop any debate on readings. "This will end the system of blowing into the pipe/straw forever," said an officer.
The cops stated that using the new devices was proving beneficial for cops too. "Not only are we being forced to buy straws, this system is faster. Also, with the system generating the reading immediately and a printout being generated at the spot, challenges by motorists have come down," said an OC of a traffic guard in the added areas.
The expansion of testing capabilities comes as part of a broader initiative to reduce alcohol-related traffic incidents in Kolkata. Police sources indicate that the new system will enable simultaneous operations at multiple locations, with both police stations and traffic guards working independently to identify and apprehend impaired drivers.