Ranchi: Truth be told — the tipple-and-topple week is here, and Ranchi police are clueless once again on how to control carouse cruising on capital thoroughfares.

As Christmas and New Year revelers raise toast to Bacchus and his merry band, traffic cops will be saddled with the Herculean task to curb drunken driving with only four breath analyzers instead of the required 40.

And, the coveted quartet remains at the guarded disposal of the officers-in-charge of four traffic police stations in Chutia, Lalpur, Gonda and Jagannathpur while constables on the field are expected to prosecute offenders by sheer intuition and olfactory power.

A source in the police department said there were 34 traffic posts across capital Ranchi, which by default means there should be as many hand-held field devices to test breath alcohol content of suspect motorists and bikers. So, that takes the mandatory breathalyzer count to 38, including the four kept at traffic police stations, while two more are needed as backup, the source explained.

“However, there are only four devices at the disposal of Ranchi traffic police instead of 40. How plausible do you think it is to drag a drink-driving suspect from the spot where he is caught to the nearest traffic thana, which will be no less than a couple of kilometres away, to get a breath test done? You cannot prosecute anyone without the test and since the process is cumbersome in the absence of adequate number of breath analysers, constables often tend to let the offenders go,” the source said.

On why a machine was necessary to rein in tipplers at the wheel, a constable said, “It gives you printed evidence on breath alcohol content, which will be needed in the court of law. If we prosecute someone without documented proof, the person can challenge our action.”

According to experts, breath analyzers do not directly measure blood alcohol content or concentration (BAC), which requires the analysis of a blood sample. Instead, they estimate BAC indirectly by measuring the amount of alcohol in one’s breath.

Hand-held field testing devices are generally based on electrochemical platinum fuel cell analysis and can be used as a form of “sobriety test” or as evidence at the point of arrest.

Arvind Kumar Lall, who handles cases at the accident claim tribunal, detailed about prosecution and penalty listed under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act. “A first-time offence may invite imprisonment of six months or a fine of 2,000 rupees or both. A second offence, committed within three years of the first, can send one to jail for two years, impose a fine of 3,000 rupees or both,” he said.

On how the device works, an expert said, when the offender exhales into a breath analyzer, any ethanol present in their breath is oxidized to acetic acid at the anode. At the cathode, atmospheric oxygen is reduced. The overall reaction is the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid and water. The electric current produced by this reaction is measured by a microprocessor and displayed as an approximation of overall BAC by the sensor.

Traffic SP Manoj Ratan conceded the crunch situation, but claimed requisition for 40 breath analyzers had been sent to the state police headquarters a few days ago. “At present, we are managing with four. Those were provided to traffic thana OCs a month and a half ago,” he told The Telegraph.

On how they would check drink driving, a major trigger for accidents during Christmas and New Year, Ratan insisted that tipplers were few on December 25. So, no special arrangement is required. As far as New Year is concerned, we shall have a plan by December 29. Anyone caught driving in an inebriated state will be detained and produced before a magistrate,” the SP said, dodging the issue of protocol.