Police add another tool to fight drunk driving


Published on Saturday, October 3, 2009 12:38 PM MDT

People who have a few drinks better think twice before driving through the City of Vision.

Rio Rancho police officers have a new tool to help them better detect whether a driver is intoxicated or not.

Though the tool may appear to be just a flashlight, it is much more. The 12-inch flashlight has a built-in camera.

“It can pick up audio and video and it illuminates the area when it’s dark,” Rio Rancho Police spokesman John Francis said. “You can shine it into a car and look at the naked eye and record at the same time — actions, verbage, everything.”

The department has two flashlights, which were purchased at $1,400 apiece by the Sandoval County DWI program.

— J. Currier

Copyright © 2010 Rio Rancho Observer

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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of the Rio Rancho Observer.

Palinite wrote on Oct 4, 2009 5:05 AM:

" No one should drive drunk, period.
However this is a good reason why you should not lower your window more than a few inches if pulled over by the police. Just enough to talk and pass through your license and insurance but as they are essentially doing a "search" with no warrant, with no probable cause, they should be thwarted at every turn.
There used to be the presumption of innocence in this country, before it became for all practical purposes a police state. Don't drink and drive, and also stick up for your rights. "

Charles Arasim wrote on Oct 5, 2009 8:09 AM:

" It is bad enough to be stopped and questioned without probable cause. Now the gestapo is going to clandestinely stick a camera and a microphone in your face. None of us are obliged to answer any questions by these thugs. Don't look their way and don't answer any questions. You have the right to remain silent and not give them any reason to investigate you further. If they use your silence as a reason, they will have a big problem on their hands real quick. "

Charles Arasim wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:50 PM:

" I agree no one should drink and drive. I lost my only brother over thirty years ago to a drunk driver. I miss him every day. The problem is that the government has used the issue as a straw dog to whittle away at our constitutional rights. Instead it should make the penalty for doing such so astronomical that no one would even think about it. This recent case in Santa Fe with the attorney is one example. He killed a guy and the most he will get is 6 years in the hole!! "

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