Racine County is calling the first year of a new program a success. An alcohol breath kiosk that tests an inmate's blood alcohol level is wrapping up its first year in the 24 hour lobby of the county jail.
The machine measures the alcohol content in the blood of 20 people who are taking part in the sheriff's office "Day Reporting" program. The program allows certain inmates the chance to serve their time outside the walls of the jail.
A requirement of the program is absolute sobriety, and before the kiosk deputies would have to drive throughout the county to administer tests.
"They would perform two tests a day on this machine to prove that they are not drinking alcohol throughout the day," said Program Director Barbara Teeling of the people in the program.
So far it has been successful according to Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling. So much so he'd like to expand it.
"I'd like to see one at our patrol station at HWY 20 & 94 and on the west end to meet the needs of the west end citizens," Schmaling said.
Each test costs $2 per use. So $4 a day for the participants. Precision Kiosk Technologies out of Minneapolis owns the machine and takes a portion of the payment, the rest goes to pay for the service.
