GO - 41015 - PAS - Devices

SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 410.15 Page 1 of 2 410.15 PRELIMINARY ALCOHOL SCREENING (PAS) DEVICES 03-09-2023 PURPOSE The purpose of this General Order is to outline procedures for the assignment and use of Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) Devices. POLICY It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to properly maintain and calibrate PAS devices. PROCEDURE Although PAS evidence is admissible in court, it is not a substitute for chemical testing for blood alcohol as described in the California Vehicle Code. As such, there is not an "implied consent" incumbent upon a driver to comply with a PAS test. A. GENERAL 1. PAS devices shall be issued to all patrol sergeants and specialty unit supervisors. 2. Sergeants shall ensure at least one PAS device is deployed in the field for each patrol team, Prisoner Transport Vehicle (PTV), and traffic team unless they are being calibrated. 3. Additional PAS devices shall be available at each station. 4. All PAS devices shall be returned at the end of each shift unless prior approval has been obtained by the Traffic Section Lieutenant. 5. PAS devices will undergo maintenance and calibration on a weekly basis. B. USE OF A PAS DEVICE 1. Prior to administering a PAS test, officers should keep the suspect under observation for a minimum of 15 minutes and shall not allow the suspect to put anything unnecessary in their mouth. 2. In accordance with California Vehicle Code Section 23612(i), officers shall read the PAS admonishment (located on the back of the SPD 541-DUI Intoxication Investigation Cards) prior to using the PAS. 3. A second test should be administered with at least two (2) minutes in-between tests. A test is considered one successful air sample. C. REPORTING 1. All of the following shall be documented in the officer’s report: a. If the suspect was allowed to put any necessary item (prescription medication) in their mouth. b. If unable to observe the suspect for 15 minutes prior to administering a PAS. c. If unable to administer a second test. d. If the subject was unable to blow a sample or a manual trap was used. e. The serial number of the PAS device, temperature and time used. D. MAINTENANCE AND CALIBRATION 1. Upon returning the PAS device for weekly calibration, officers shall document any problems with the PAS device on a note placed inside the device case. 2. Traffic Officers or other trained and designated personnel shall: a. collect and calibrate all PAS devices on a day of the week designated by the Traffic Section Lieutenant. b. maintain all calibration logs. c. submit certified copies of calibration logs to the District Attorney's Office when requested. SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 410.15 Page 2 of 2 d. ensure there is an adequate supply of mouth pieces at each storage area. e. ensure that there is an adequate supply of dry gas available and that it is being maintained within standards. f. deliver PAS devices in need of repair to the State Department of Justice with a Traffic Sergeant's approval.