Right before St. Patrick’s Day, the Kansas Police unveiled their new Mobile DUI enforcement vehicle. This vehicle cost nearly $400,000. Lord knows where they got the money from, but I can guarantee it is entirely taxpayer funded. Here is their story. The vehicle is equipped to give 5 breath tests at a time. In other words, 5 arrested people could be breath tested at the same time. Considering that it only takes about 5 minutes to perform a breath test, I don’t see the need for 5 machines in this thing. Also, since the number of DUI arrests is rarely more than 1% or 2% at the DUI checklanes in Kansas City, I doubt that the police will ever have 5 people to test at the same time.
But, as long as DUI continues to be an easy political target, there will be plenty of money to throw at it. Who would say “no” to spending $400,000.00 on a sweet ride for the police to take the DUI checklanes, in which they get government grants to pay for overtime for dozens of police officers who, if they arrest enough people in the checklane, will guarantee the funding for the next checklane.