GIPD Receives Alcohol Breath Testing Units Through State Traffic Safety Grant

Grand Island, Neb. — The Grand Island Police Department has received six handheld alcohol breath testing units through a traffic safety grant awarded by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO).

The grant provided equipment valued at $2,070, with each portable breath testing unit valued at $345. The devices are used by officers during impaired driving investigations to measure the presence of alcohol in a driver's breath and provide an immediate digital reading of blood alcohol concentration. The handheld units are used alongside standardized field sobriety testing to help officers establish probable cause when investigating suspected cases of impaired driving.

"The departments receiving this grant are all part of a statewide initiative to decrease the number of roadway crashes, fatalities and injuries," said NDOT Highway Safety Office Administrator Ryley Egger. "This is a quick test that can be performed in the field at the beginning of each investigation. In every state in this country, drunk driving is illegal. It's also incredibly deadly and a risk we don't want to see people take. Driving under the influence of any substance will land you a DUI."

The additional equipment will help provide officers with a fast and reliable tool during roadside investigations, supporting ongoing efforts to keep impaired drivers off Nebraska roadways. The Grand Island Police Department continues to work with state and local partners to promote traffic safety and reduce impaired driving throughout the community.