thedrifter
08-21-07, 08:00 PM
Alcohol test lets Camp Foster MPs observe effects of drinking on drivers
By Will Morris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, August 23, 2007
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Cpl. Kyle Thompson walks into a classroom full of Marines, stands next to a wall, smiles and mouths to another Marine, “I’m hammered.”
For the past two hours, Thompson, 21, had been dining on a liquid lunch of vodka and orange juice. Before the day was over, Thompson and three other intoxicated Marines would be given several field sobriety examinations, undergo breath tests to detect alcohol and be responsible for several traffic accidents in the virtual world.
The purpose behind the boozing on Tuesday was to give military police at Camp Foster a chance to observe the effects of alcohol on driving in a controlled setting. They also learned how their Okinawan counterparts detect drunken drivers.
Lance Cpl. David Ramos, 19, said he was surprised how quickly people can become impaired and how even when impaired, they can do relatively well on a field sobriety test, but still be unable to control a car in a computerized driving simulator.
“I didn’t realize how little it took to get him drunk,” Ramos said about Thompson, 228 pounds, who drank a total of 14 ounces of alcohol.
Each of Thompson’s turns at the wheel of the simulator ended quickly, all in accidents.
Just before driving, Thompson registered 0.14 milligrams of alcohol per liter of his breath in a Japanese device that tests for alcohol. That’s just 0.01 mg under the amount to be considered too intoxicated to drive in Japan, or the equivalent of having a blood alcohol level of 0.03 when measured with a Breathalyzer. All the drinking was done using carefully controlled amounts under medical supervision and guidance from other military police.
“There’s no way,” Thompson said about driving anything other than a virtual car at his level of intoxication. “I’m the kind of person who won’t get into a car once I drink one beer.”
Among those at the training was Ginowan city Police Lt. Osamu Ola. Ola discussed the differences between Japanese and American DUI laws. He also used Japanese alcohol detection equipment on the four intoxicated Marines.
After a series of fatal auto accidents involving alcohol last year — one of which killed three children — the Japanese government decided to strengthen the punishments for drunken driving, Ola said. The changes range from increased fines and prison time for DUI and DWI to charging those who give alcohol to someone who later drives drunk.
The revisions to the law are to take effect in September.
Ola said Okinawa leads all the Japanese prefectures for alcohol-related auto fatalities. It also leads the country in DUI arrests.
On Tuesday, Ola observed, with a translator, several field sobriety tests conducted by the Marine MPs and said he was impressed.
“It’s a lot stricter on the American side than on the Japanese,” he said.
Ellie
By Will Morris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Thursday, August 23, 2007
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Cpl. Kyle Thompson walks into a classroom full of Marines, stands next to a wall, smiles and mouths to another Marine, “I’m hammered.”
For the past two hours, Thompson, 21, had been dining on a liquid lunch of vodka and orange juice. Before the day was over, Thompson and three other intoxicated Marines would be given several field sobriety examinations, undergo breath tests to detect alcohol and be responsible for several traffic accidents in the virtual world.
The purpose behind the boozing on Tuesday was to give military police at Camp Foster a chance to observe the effects of alcohol on driving in a controlled setting. They also learned how their Okinawan counterparts detect drunken drivers.
Lance Cpl. David Ramos, 19, said he was surprised how quickly people can become impaired and how even when impaired, they can do relatively well on a field sobriety test, but still be unable to control a car in a computerized driving simulator.
“I didn’t realize how little it took to get him drunk,” Ramos said about Thompson, 228 pounds, who drank a total of 14 ounces of alcohol.
Each of Thompson’s turns at the wheel of the simulator ended quickly, all in accidents.
Just before driving, Thompson registered 0.14 milligrams of alcohol per liter of his breath in a Japanese device that tests for alcohol. That’s just 0.01 mg under the amount to be considered too intoxicated to drive in Japan, or the equivalent of having a blood alcohol level of 0.03 when measured with a Breathalyzer. All the drinking was done using carefully controlled amounts under medical supervision and guidance from other military police.
“There’s no way,” Thompson said about driving anything other than a virtual car at his level of intoxication. “I’m the kind of person who won’t get into a car once I drink one beer.”
Among those at the training was Ginowan city Police Lt. Osamu Ola. Ola discussed the differences between Japanese and American DUI laws. He also used Japanese alcohol detection equipment on the four intoxicated Marines.
After a series of fatal auto accidents involving alcohol last year — one of which killed three children — the Japanese government decided to strengthen the punishments for drunken driving, Ola said. The changes range from increased fines and prison time for DUI and DWI to charging those who give alcohol to someone who later drives drunk.
The revisions to the law are to take effect in September.
Ola said Okinawa leads all the Japanese prefectures for alcohol-related auto fatalities. It also leads the country in DUI arrests.
On Tuesday, Ola observed, with a translator, several field sobriety tests conducted by the Marine MPs and said he was impressed.
“It’s a lot stricter on the American side than on the Japanese,” he said.
Ellie