Intoximeters Alco-Sensor FST User manual

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual1of302018‐12‐18
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Alco‐SensorFST®
Operator’sManual
(BRITISHCOLUMBIA)


©HerMajestytheQueeninRightofCanada,representedbytheRoyalCanadianMountedPolice
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisdocumentmaybereproducedortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanical,
photocopying,recordingorotherwise,orstoredinaretrievalsystem,withoutpriorwrittenpermissionoftheDirectorGeneral,Learningand
Development.


Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual2of302018‐12‐18

NOTICE
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ThismanualhasbeenpreparedbytheBritishColumbiaAssociationofChiefsofPolice(BCACP),
ImpairedDrivingAdvisoryCommittee(IDAC)withrepresentationfromRCMPNationalForensic
LaboratoryServices.ThemanualhasbeencreatedfrommaterialsprovidedbyIntoximetersInc.,the
manufactureroftheAlco‐SensorFST®.ThismanualconformstoBritishColumbiaprovincial
standardsandlegislationandisprovidedtopoliceofficersundertakingAlco‐SensorFST®operator
traininginBritishColumbia.

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual3of302018‐12‐18
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………….4
2.0 Identify Suspected Impaired Drivers…………………………………………………………………………….5
2.1 Initial Observations…………………………………………………………………………………………….5
2.2 Stopping Drivers………………………………………………………………………………………………..5
2.3 Recognizing Signs of Impairment……………………………………………………………………..5
2.4 Assessing Signs of Impairment………………………………………………………………………...5
2.5 Science of Breath Testing…………………………………………………………………………………..6
2.6 Theory of Fuel Cells…………………………………………………………………………………………….6
3.0 Lawfully administer the Alco-Sensor FST®…………………………………………………………………..7
3.1 Stopping the Subject…………………………………………………………………………………........7
3.2 Dealing with the Subject…………………………………………………………………………………….9
3.3 Failure or Refusal to Comply……………………………………………………………………………10
3.4 Mandatory Alcohol Screening…………………………………………………………………………..11
4.0 Operate the Alco-Sensor FST®……………………………………………………………………………………12
4.1 Operational Overview of the Alco-Sensor FST®…………………………………………….12
4.2 Theory and Design of the Alco-Sensor FST®…………………………………………………13
4.3 Storage, Handling and Transport……………………………………………………………………17
4.4 Operator Menu Functions…………………………………………………………………………………17
4.5 Confirming Subject Suitability…………………………………………………………………………19
4.6 Operating the Alco-Sensor FST®……………………………………………………………………19
5.0 Response to Subject Sample Results…………………………………………………………………………24
5.1 ASD Refusals……………………………………………………………………………………………………24
5.2 Fail Results……………………………………………………………………………………………………….25
5.3 Warn Results…………………………………………………………………………………………………….26
5.4 ASD Reading of 51-59 mg%..................................................................26
5.5 ASD Reading of 0-60 mg%....................................................................26
6.0 Trouble Shooting Issues………………………………………………………………………………………………26
7.0 ASD Policy and Precautions…………………………………………………………………………………………28
8.0 Additional Considerations…………………………………………………………………………………………….29
8.1 Alternate Reasons for Subject Impairment…………………………………………………….29
8.2 Articulation……………………………………………………………………………………………………….29
8.3 Bias Free Policing……………………………………………………………………………………………..30

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual4of302018‐12‐18

1.0Introduction
ImpaireddrivingistheleadingcauseofcriminaldeathinCanada.1Thisisapreventabletragedy
andthekeytosuccessisensuringourresponsetoimpaireddrivingisswift,certainand
significant.
Thenatureofalcoholimpairmentpresentsseriouschallenges.Thefirstisthatindividualshave
awiderangeoftolerancetoalcoholanddetectingapersonwhoseabilitytooperateamotor
vehicleisimpairediseasiersaidthandone.Sincepoliceoftenhaveabriefobservationperiod
andlimitedinteractionwiththesubject,discoveringimpaireddriverscanbeverychallenging.
AstudyconductedinFloridademonstratedevenseniorandmotivatedofficersmissed2/3ofall
impaireddriversatacheckstopbecauseofthewiderangeoftolerancetoalcoholandbecause
officershaveonlyabriefobservationandlimitedinteractionwiththestoppeddrivers.
ThisiswhytheApprovedScreeningDevice(ASD)wascreated.TheASDgivespoliceascientific
andreliablemethodforquicklydetermining,withcertainty,whetheraperson’sbloodalcohol
concentration(BAC)meets‐or‐exceeds80milligramsofalcoholin100millilitresofblood(mg%).
TheuseofASDsinCanadaisgovernedbytheCriminalCode.Althoughthismanualdealswith
theAlco‐SensorFST®,thelawandpolicyarethesameforallASDs.
TheCriminalCodesetsthelegalparametersforbloodalcoholconcentrationaswellasmakingit
illegaltodrivewhileimpairedbyalcoholoradrug.Section320.14oftheCriminalCode
describesthe“who”,“what”,“where”and“how”oftheoffenseintheseterms:
320.14(1)Everyonecommitsanoffencewho
(a)operatesaconveyancewhiletheperson’sabilitytooperateitisimpairedtoany
degreebyalcoholoradrugorbyacombinationofalcoholandadrug;
(b)subjecttosubsection(5),has,withintwohoursafterceasingtooperatea
conveyance,abloodalcoholconcentrationthatisequaltoorexceeds80mgofalcohol
in100mLofblood;
Beforeanyscreeningdevicecanbeused,itmustbeapprovedbytheAttorneyGeneralof
CanadaforuseandappearintheApprovedScreeningDevicesOrder.TheAlco‐SensorFST®is
includedinthisorderandis,therefore,approvedforuse.Forcourtpurposes,theoperator
mustknowexactlywhichdeviceandmodelwasusedandshouldalwaysstatethatitwasan
“ApprovedScreeningDevice”.
TheAlco‐SensorFST®wasapprovedforuseasascreeningdevicein2012.ItisdistributedinCanada
byDAVTECHAnalyticalServicesandismanufacturedbyIntoximetersInc.ofSt.Louis,Missouri.
Uponsuccessfulcompletionofthiscourse,youwillbequalifiedtousethisASDtoinvestigate
impaireddrivingoffences.
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1source:http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85‐002‐x/2013001/article/11739‐eng.pdf

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual5of302018‐12‐18

2.0IdentifySuspectedImpairedDrivers
2.1InitialObservation
Theinitialobservationofvehicularoperationbeginswhentheofficerfirstnoticesthevehicle
and/orthedriver.Iftheinitialobservationdisclosesvehiclemaneuversorhumanbehaviors
thatmaybeassociatedwithalcoholinfluence,theofficermaydevelopaninitialsuspicionof
impaireddriving.
2.2StoppingDrivers
Provincialand/orfederallegislationprovidepolicewiththeauthoritytostopavehicle.
2.3RecognizingSignsofImpairment
Oncethetrafficstophasbeeninitiated,theofficermustcloselyobservethedriver'sactionsand
vehiclemaneuversduringthestoppingsequence.Significantevidenceofalcoholinfluencemay
becomeapparentduringthevehiclestop.Driversimpairedbyalcoholand/orotherdrugsmay
respondinunexpectedanddangerousways.
2.4AssessingSignsofImpairment
Alcoholisacentralnervoussystemdepressantandassuch,slowsdowntheactivityofthebrain
andspinalcord.Impairmentreferstoadeteriorationofsensoryandmentalfunctionstosuch
anextentastomaketheoperationofamotorvehicleunsafe.Impaireddrivershavea
deteriorationofvisionandfinemotorco‐ordination,decreasedcomprehensionandjudgment,
lessenedattentivenessandadecreasedrateofinformationprocessing.Driverswhoare
impairedbyalcoholmaydisplaythefollowingdrivingbehaviours:aninabilitytonegotiate
curvesandturnssuccessfully;anincreaseinreactiontime;misjudgethedistancebetween
themselvesandothervehicles;disregardfortherulesoftheroad;increaseinrisktaking
behavior;anddifficultyinmaintaininglanepositionsandappropriatespeeds.
Itistheconsensusofthescientificcommunitythatallindividualsareimpairedintheirabilityto
operateamotorvehiclewithabloodalcoholconcentrationof100mg%.
Intoxicationisanadvancedstateofimpairmentinwhichtheoutwardphysicalsignsofthe
deterioratingeffectsofalcoholareapparent.Intoxicatedindividualsmayexhibitslurred
speech,lossofbalance,staggeredgait,emotionaldisturbancesandtearyoroveremotional
behaviour.
Tolerancereferstothebody’sabilitytowithstandorresisttheeffectsofalcohol,duetoprior
exposure.ThedegreeofintoxicationexhibitedbyanindividualatagivenBACwilldependon
theirleveloftolerancetoalcohol.Drinkersthathavegreatertolerancewillappearless
intoxicatedcomparedtoinexperienceddrinkersthathaveconsumedthesameamountof
alcohol.AnexperienceddrinkermayshownooutwardsignsofimpairmentwithaBACof100
mg%.However,theirabilitytosafelyoperateamotorvehiclewillstillbeimpaired.
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Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual6of302018‐12‐18

2.5ScienceofBreathTesting
Whenapersonconsumesanalcoholicbeverage,itpassesfromthemouthandesophagusto
thestomachandsmallintestine,whereitisabsorbedintothebloodstream.Theabsorptionof
alcoholisquiterapid,generallytaking20to30minutesafterconsumptiontoreachthe
maximumreading.Absorptiontimemaybeaffectedbythetypeandamountoffoodinthe
stomach,therateofalcoholconsumption,thetypeofbeverageconsumedaswellassome
drugs,diseaseandemotionalstates.Onceinthebloodstream,thealcoholisdistributedtoall
partsofthebodyincludingthelungs,brainandliver.Itisthedepressantactionofalcoholinthe
brainthatcausesimpairmentandintoxication.
Eliminationofalcoholbeginsimmediatelyafterithasenteredtheblood.Mostofthealcohol
(approximately95%)iseliminatedbymetabolismintheliver.Theremainder(approximately
5%)isexcretedunchangedthroughbreathandotherbodyfluids.Unlikeabsorption,the
eliminationprocessisslow.Theeliminationraterangesbetween10‐20mg%perhourformost
ofthepopulation.
Thebasisforallbreathtestequipmentisthatalcoholiseliminatedunchangedinthebreath.
Thereisafixedandknownrelationshipbetweentheamountofalcoholinthebreathandthe
amountofalcoholintheblood.Thisrelationship(essentiallytheprincipleofbreathtesting)is:
At34oC,2100partsofdeeplungaircontainsthesameamountofalcoholasone
partofblood.
Usingthisratio,itispossibletocollectameasuredvolumeofbreath,analyzeitforalcoholand
converttheresulttoabloodalcoholconcentration.Thisprincipleisusedinallbreathtest
instrumentsandscreeningdevicesoperatedinNorthAmerica,includingtheAlco‐SensorFST®.
Itshouldbenotedthatthisratioislowerthantheactualratio(2300:1)andsotheresults
obtainedthroughbreathtestingtendtounderestimatetheactualbloodalcoholconcentration.

2.6TheoryofFuelCells

TheAlco‐SensorFST®analyzestheamountofalcoholinasampleofbreathbymeansofafuelcell.
Afuelcellissimilartoabatteryexceptthatitrequiresafuel(likealcohol)tomakeitproducea
current.Thecurrentisproducedbyachemicalreactionthatoccurswhenalcoholcomesincontact
withthefuelcell:
Alcohol‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐>AceticAcid+Electrons‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐>CO2+O2+H2O
Thecurrentisproducedwhenelectronsaregeneratedintheabovereaction.Themorealcohol
thereisinabreathsample,themoreelectronsareproducedcausingastrongercurrentand
subsequently,ahigherreading.



Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual7of302018‐12‐18

3.0LawfullyAdministertheAlco‐SensorFST®
3.1StoppingtheSubject
Policemaystopadrivertocheckthelicense,registration,insurance,mechanicalconditionof
thevehicle,ortocheckthesobrietyofthedriver.AnASDisanimportanttoolpolicecanuseto
helpevaluatedriversobriety.
InordertouseanASDlawfullyanofficermustcomplywithsection320.27oftheCriminalCode.
AnASDdemandmaybemadewhentheofficerhasreasonablegroundstosuspectthatthe
personhasalcoholintheirbodyandthepersonhasbeenoperatingaconveyancewithinthe
precedingthreehours.
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320.27(1)Ifapeaceofficerhasreasonablegroundsto
suspectthatapersonhasalcoholoradrugintheirbody
andthatthepersonhas,withintheprecedingthree
hours,operatedaconveyance,thepeaceofficermay,by
demand,requirethepersontocomplywiththerequirements
ofeitherorbothofparagraphs(a)and(b)inthe
caseofalcoholorwiththerequirementsofeitherorboth
ofparagraphs(a)and(c)inthecaseofadrug:
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(a)toimmediatelyperformthephysicalcoordination
testsprescribedbyregulationandtoaccompanythe
peaceofficerforthatpurpose;
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(b)toimmediatelyprovidethesamplesofbreaththat,
inthepeaceofficer’sopinion,arenecessarytoenablea
properanalysistobemadebymeansofanapproved
screeningdeviceandtoaccompanythepeaceofficer
forthatpurpose;
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(c)toimmediatelyprovidethesamplesofabodily
substancethat,inthepeaceofficer’sopinion,arenecessary
toenableaproperanalysistobemadeby
meansofapproveddrugscreeningequipmentandto
accompanythepeaceofficerforthatpurpose.
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Reasonablesuspicionmaybeformedwhen:anofficersmellsalcoholcomingfromthesubject’s
breath,thesubjectadmitstorecentalcoholconsumption,awitnessobservesthesubject

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
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consumingalcohol,anofficerobservessubjectconsumingalcohol,oranyothercombinationof
factorswhichreasonablysupportthesuspicion.
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AnASDshouldnotbeusediftheofficeralreadyhasformedtheopinionthatthesubject's
abilitytodriveisimpairedbyalcohol.
Do not confuse the grounds for the ASD demand with the grounds for an
evidentiary breath demand.
320.28(1)Ifapeaceofficerhasreasonablegroundsto
believethatapersonhasoperatedaconveyancewhile
theperson’sabilitytooperateitwasimpairedtoanydegree
byalcoholorhascommittedanoffenceunderparagraph
320.14(1)(b),thepeaceofficermay,bydemand
madeassoonaspracticable,
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(a)requirethepersontoprovide,assoonaspracticable,
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(i)thesamplesofbreaththat,inaqualifiedtechnician’s
opinion,arenecessarytoenableaproper
analysistobemadebymeansofanapprovedinstrument,
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or
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(ii)ifthepeaceofficerhasreasonablegroundsto
believethat,becauseoftheirphysicalcondition,the
personmaybeincapableofprovidingasampleof
breathoritwouldbeimpracticabletotakeone,the
samplesofbloodthat,intheopinionofthequalified
medicalpractitionerorqualifiedtechnician
takingthesamples,arenecessarytoenableaproper
analysistobemadetodeterminetheperson’s
bloodalcoholconcentration;and
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(b)requirethepersontoaccompanythepeaceofficer
forthepurposeoftakingsamplesofthatperson’s
breathorblood.
Reasonable grounds for impairment are a much higher standard than a
suspicion of alcohol in the body, and are generally formed with observations of
intoxication (slurred speech, poor balance, staggering gait, confusion,
disorientation, etc.) or of poor driving (excessively slow, fast or variable speeds,
wide or narrow turns, weaving within and outside of the lane of travel, driving
errors, etc.).
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Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
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Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual9of302018‐12‐18
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3.2DealingwiththeSubject
Section320.27(1)(b)oftheCriminalCodegivesthepeaceofficertheauthoritytodemanda
breathsampleforanalysisbyanASDonreasonablegroundstosuspectthatapersonhas
alcoholintheirbodyandthatthepersonhas,withintheprecedingthreehours,operateda
conveyance.
Section320.27alsograntstheofficerthepowertodetainandaskthesubjecttoaccompany
him/herforthepurposesofadministeringthetest.Thisauthorizestheofficertoremovethe
accusedfromthevehicleormoveashortdistance,ifrequiredfortestingorsafetyreasons.
Timingiscriticalandtheofficermustmakethedemandpromptlyandadministerthetest
withoutanyavoidabledelay.Failuretoexpeditethetestsorexplaindelayswilloftenleadtoa
Charterbreach.AnydelayinperformingtheASDtestmustbeexplainedtothesubject.Ifa
demandismadebutthearrivaloftheASDisdelayedarighttocounselmayariseandthedriver
shouldbeinformedofthisrightandgivenareasonableopportunitytoexercisethisright.A
generalthresholdforthistimeframeisfifteenminutes,butsituationalfactorsmayfurther
impactit.
ASDdemandsmustbemade"immediately"andwithoutanydelay.Assoonasanofficerhas
reasonablegroundstosuspectalcoholbeingpresentinthesubject'sbody,theofficermust
readtheASDdemandverbatimassoonaspracticable.
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ApprovedScreeningDevice(ASD)DEMAND
(SuspicionofAlcoholinBody)320.27(1)(b)
Ihavereasonablegroundstosuspectthatyouhave,withintheprecedingthreehours,operatedaconveyance
(namely(pickone)amotorvehicle,avessel,anaircraftorrailwayequipment)withalcoholinyourbody.In
accordancewiththeprovisionsoftheCriminalCode,Iherebydemandthatyouprovideasampleofyourbreath,
immediately,suitableforanalysisusinganapprovedscreeningdeviceandtoaccompanymeforthepurposeof
enablingsuchsamplestobetaken.Doyouunderstand?
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ThereisnorighttocounselpriortoprovidingabreathsampleintoanASD.Compliancewithan
ASDdemandisconsideredadetention.However,ithasbeendeemedareasonabledetention
intheinterestofpublicsafety.Thetestistobeconductedassoonaspracticableandany
delaysmustbeexplainedtothesubject.
ThefullandpropernameoftheASDyouareusing(Alco‐SensorFST®)aswellastheserial
numberofthedeviceshouldberecordedinyournotes.
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Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
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Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual10of302018‐12‐18
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3.3FailureorRefusaltoComply
Section320.15oftheCriminalCodeappliestothefailureorrefusaltocomplywithademand
foranASDtest,approvedinstrumenttestorbloodsample.Eachrefusalcaseisunique.The
offenceiscompleteandthesubjectmaybechargedwithrefusalwhen:
Theofficerhasproperlyandfullyexplainedthedemand,and
Thesubjecthasbeengivenareasonableopportunitytocomply,and
Theofficerhasreceivedanunequivocalrefusal(bystatementorconduct),or
Thesubjectfailstoprovideasuitablesampleandtheofficerisoftheopiniontheyare
capableofdoingso.
IfasubjectrefusestheAlco‐SensorFST®byfailuretoprovideasample,theyshouldbecharged
withrefusal.Insuchacase,itiscriticalthattheofficerdocumentwhytheyfeltthesubjectwas
refusing.Forexample,iftheystartblowingandthenstop,iftheycontinuallytaketheirlipsoff
themouthpiece,iftheystartblowingoutthesideoftheirmouth,oriftheyputtheirmouthon
themouthpiecebutdon’tblowanybreathoutoftheirmouth.Alloftheseobservationsareto
bedocumentedintheofficer’snotesasthesubject’sactionsconstitutetherefusal.Itmaybe
necessarytodemonstratetothesubjecthowtoprovideapropersampleintotheASDandask
thesubjectiftheyunderstand.Theofficermayhavetoexplaintothesubjectseveraltimesand
indifferentwaysonhowtoprovideapropersample.Ifasubjectischargedwithrefusalby
failuretocomply,themouthpieceistobecheckedtoensuretherearenoblockagesor
obstructionspreventingbreathfromflowingthroughit.Themouthpieceistoberetainedas
evidence.Theofficershouldalsoprovideasampleintothedevicetodemonstratethatthe
deviceiscapableofacceptingasample.
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Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual11of302018‐12‐18
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3.4MandatoryAlcoholScreening
Section320.27(2)oftheCriminalCodeprovidespeaceofficerstheauthoritytodemand
samplesofbreathforanalysisbyanASDwithoutfirstrequiringthemtohavereasonable
groundstosuspectthesubjecthasconsumedalcohol.Thepeaceofficerneedstobein
possessionofanASD,andmustbedealingwiththedriverofamotorvehiclein“thecourseof
thelawfulexerciseofpowersunderanActofParliamentoranActofaprovinciallegislatureor
arisingatcommonlaw.”ThisSectionalsorequiresthesubjecttoaccompanythepeaceofficer
forthispurpose.
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Mandatoryalcoholscreening
(2)Ifapeaceofficerhasinhisorherpossessionanapproved
screeningdevice,thepeaceofficermay,inthe
courseofthelawfulexerciseofpowersunderanActof
ParliamentoranActofaprovinciallegislatureorarising
atcommonlaw,bydemand,requirethepersonwhois
operatingamotorvehicletoimmediatelyprovidethe
samplesofbreaththat,inthepeaceofficer’sopinion,are
necessarytoenableaproperanalysistobemadeby
meansofthatdeviceandtoaccompanythepeaceofficer
forthatpurpose.
WhilethisSectiondoesprovidesweepingauthoritytodemandasampleforanalysisbyanASD,
ifthepeaceofficerisabletodemonstratereasonablegroundstosuspectthedriverhas
consumedalcohol,itremainsmoreappropriatetorelyon320.27(1)(b)thanthisauthority,and
forthepeaceofficertomakenotesoftheirobservationsaccordingly.Intheeventapeace
officerdoesrelyupontheMandatoryAlcoholScreeningauthoritytodemandabreathsample,
comprehensivenotesaretobemade,includingthereasonfortheoriginaldetention,andany
otherpotentialindiciatheofficerobservesthat,whilenotrisingtothepointof“reasonable
groundstosuspect”,maysuggesttheconsumptionofalcoholorotherintoxicants.
ASDdemandsmustbemade"immediately"andwithoutanydelay.Theofficermustreadthe
ASDdemandverbatimassoonaspracticable.

ApprovedScreeningDevice(ASD)DEMAND
(MandatoryAlcoholScreening)320.27(2)
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InaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheCriminalCodeandinthelawfulexecutionofmyduty,youarerequiredto
provideasampleofyourbreathintoanapprovedscreeningdevicewhenoperatingamotorvehicle.Ihereby
demandthatyouprovideasampleofyourbreath,immediately,suitableforanalysisusinganapprovedscreening
deviceandtoaccompanymeforthepurposeofenablingsuchsamplestobetaken.Doyouunderstand?

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual12of302018‐12‐18
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4.0OperatetheAlco‐SensorFST®
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4.1OperationalOverviewoftheALCO‐SENSORFST®
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ItisimperativeallASDoperatorsareabletoadequatelyarticulatehowthedevicefunctionsand
todescribethecorrectsequenceofmessagesdisplayedbythedevice,ifcalledupontogive
testimonyincourt.Althoughsomemessagesaredisplayedonlyverybriefly,failuretoidentify
andarticulatethesemessagescanraiseconcernsabouttheproperoperationofthedevice.
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Commenceatestbyattachingacleanmouthpiecetothedevice.Inserttheclosedendofthe
mouthpieceintothemouthpiecechannel,withtheflatsideofthemouthpiecedownwardand
pressthemouthpieceintoposition.Thetwoholesontheundersideofthemouthpiecewill
naturallyalignandattachtotheappropriateportsoftheAlco‐SensorFST®.
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PresstheONbutton(labeledwithan“I”symbolwithinadiamondshape)locatedoppositethe
displayforaboutonesecondsothedisplayilluminatesandanaudiblebeepsounds.
Thebacklightofthedisplayisnormallygreenforallfunctionsbutturnsanambercolorwhen
displayingaWARNresult,oraredcolorwhendisplayingaFAiLresult.
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Thetestsequencestartsbybrieflyindicatingthedevicetemperatureandbatterystrength.The
acceptableoperatingtemperatureofthedeviceis‐12°Cto55°Cbutthetestsequencewill
automaticallyendifthetemperatureisnotintheacceptablerangeorifthebatteriesaretoo
weaktocompletethetest.Thereisnoneedtorecordthistemperature.
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Followingthetemperatureandbatterycheck,thedisplaywillshowBlNKandperformablank
testtodemonstratethealcoholfreestatusofthedevice.Ablankresultotherthan0mg%will
generateastatusmessageNULLFAiLandendthetestsequenceautomatically,sothereisno
needtorecordtheblankreading.A0mg%blankwillallowthesequencetocontinuewithWAIT
appearingonthedisplaywhilethesequenceprogressesautomatically.

Adoublebeepwillsoundwhenthedeviceisreadytoacceptasampleofbreathandtherewill
beasmallflashingiconofaperson’sheadintheupperleftcornerofthedisplayandthe
messageBlow.TheASDoperatorshouldinstructthesubjectto“takeanormalbreathin,seal
yourlipsaroundthemouthpiece,andblowcontinuouslythroughthemouthpieceuntilItell
youtostop”.
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

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual13of302018‐12‐18
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TheAlco‐SensorFST®hasanautomaticsamplingsystemdesignedtoensurethatasampleof
deeplungairisobtainedandanalyzed.Inordertotriggerautomaticsamplingthesubjectmust
blowwithaminimumflowrate,mustproduceaminimumbreathvolumeandblowfora
minimumduration.Whentheminimumflowrateismetacontinuoustonewillsound,the
headiconwillstopflashing,themessageBlowwilldisappear,andoneofthreeprogressive
dasheswillappeartotherightoftheicon.Ifthesubjectcontinuestoblowwhileexceedingthe
minimumflowratetwomoredasheswillappeartotherightoftheheadicon.
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Ifthesubjectstopsblowingbeforethesamplingrequirementshavebeenmet,oneofthefour
flowmessageswillappearandthedevicewillre‐cycletoallowasecondattempttoprovidea
sample.Afteraveryshortwaittheflashingheadiconwillreappearandthesubjectshouldbe
directedtoblowagain.Thedevicewillallowuptothreeattemptstoprovideabreathsample
foreachtestsequence.
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Whenallthesamplingrequirementsaremettherewillbeanaudibleclickandthesamplewill
beacceptedandanalyzed.Theanalysisofthebreathsampleusuallytakeslessthan10
secondstocompleteandtherearethreepossibleresults:
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Thetestresultwillbedisplayedforabouttensecondsandthenthedevicewillpoweroff
automatically.Showthereadingtothesubject.Youcanrecallthetestresultusingthemenu
function,LAST(seeAlco‐SensorFST®MenuFunctionsonpage17).
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4.2TheoryandDesignoftheAlco‐SensorFST®
TheAlco‐SensorFST®containsafuelcellsensorandanelectricallyoperatedsamplingsystem.A
pressuresensorinthedevicemonitorsbreathflowandvolumetodeterminewhentocapturea
breathforanalysis.Whileasubjectisblowingandwhendeeplungbreathisreachedthe
samplingsystemisactivated.Asmall,fixedvolumeofdeeplungbreathisdrawnontothe
surfaceofthefuelcell,anyalcoholpresentinthesampleisoxidized,generatingacurrent.The
resultingelectriccurrentistranslatedintoabloodalcoholconcentrationandtheresultis
displayedontheAlco‐SensorFST®inbloodalcoholconcentrationunitsofmilligramsofalcohol
in100millilitersofblood(mg%).
Display‐ThedisplayandthebacklightturnonwhenthedeviceispoweredON.Various
commandsandsymbolsappearonthedisplaytodirecttheoperatorthroughthetesting
procedureandalerttheoperatorofimpropertestingconditionsdetectedbythesystem.
Resultdisplayedonscreen BACLevel
DigitalNumericalReading 0to59mg%*
WARN 60to99mg%
FAiL 100mg%orhigher

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual14of302018‐12‐18
ONButton‐TheONbutton(labeledwithan“I”symbolwithinadiamondshape)isthelargerof
thetwobuttonsontheAlco‐SensorFST®case.Thisbuttonislocatedoppositethedisplayand
willnaturallyrestundertheoperator’sforefingerwhenholdingthedevice.Theprimary
functionofthebuttonistoturnthedeviceON,andthisisaccomplishedbypressingthebutton
downforonesecond.Abeepandthedisplaypoweringonwillindicatethatpoweruphasbeen
successful.(NOTE:Ifyouwanttoilluminatethedisplay,holdtheONbuttondownforanextra
secondonpoweruporpresstheONbuttonatanypointwhenthetemperatureisbeing
displayedandthedisplaywillilluminate.)
MENU/OFFButton‐TheMENU/OFFbutton(labeledwithan“O”symbol)islocatedonthe
Alco‐SensorFST®casebeneaththedisplay.Depressingitandholdingitdownfortwoseconds,
duringnormaloperation,willmanuallyturnthedeviceoff.NOTE:Thedevicedoeshaveanauto
powerdownfeaturewhichpowersthedevicedownwhenithasnotbeenusedforaperiodof
time.

Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual15of302018‐12‐18
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Batteries‐ThebatterycoverislocatedonthebaseoftheAlco‐SensorFST®.TwoAAalkaline
batteriesshouldrunwellinexcessof1000testsatroomtemperature.Thedeviceisreverse‐
polarityprotected.Rechargeablebatteriesarenottobeused.
IftheAlco‐SensorFST®doesnothavesufficientbatterypowertoperformatest,eitherthe
displaywillnotpoweronorBATwillbedisplayedandtestingwillbedisabled.
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Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual16of302018‐12‐18
Inordertoreplacethebatteries:
1. Removerubberizedgrip.
2. Slidebatterydooropen.ItislocatedatthebottomoftheAlco‐SensorFST®.
3. Removebothbatteries.
4. InserttwonewAAsizealkalinebatteries,ensuringpolarityiscorrect.
5. Closebatterydoor.
6. Replacerubberizedgrip.
7. TurnAlco‐SensorFST®ONtoverifyproperinstallation.
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NOTE:Ifthebatteriesarereplacedincorrectly,thedevicewillnotpowerON.Immediately
removethebatteries.AnAlco‐SensorFST®calibratorwillberequiredtoputthedeviceback
intoservice.
Mouthpiece‐Themouthpieceisacriticalportionofthesampleassemblyandspecifically
designedtobeusedwiththeAlco‐SensorFST®.Insertingtheclosedendofthemouthpieceinto
themouthpiecechannel,withtheflatsideofthemouthpiecedownward,andpressingdown
willplacethemouthpieceintoposition.Thetwoholesontheundersideofthemouthpiecewill
naturallyalignandattachtotheappropriateportsoftheAlco‐SensorFST®.



Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual17of302018‐12‐18
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4.3Storage,HandlingandTransport
TheAlco‐SensorFST®hasbeendesignedtobecarriedandusedbypoliceofficersunder
operationalconditions.Normalphysicalshocksencounteredinthepolicingenvironmentwill
notgenerallybeaproblem.
InordertoextendthelifeoftheAlco‐SensorFST®,thefollowingbasicprinciplesshouldbe
observed:
Employreasonableprecautionsagainstexcessiveshocks.Forexample,usethesupplied
wriststraptoensuretheAlco‐SensorFST®isnotdroppedduringitsuse.
Whennotinuse,theAlco‐SensorFST®shouldbekeptinitscarryingcase.
Atendofyourshift,returntheAlco‐SensorFST®totheoffice.
DonotleavetheAlco‐SensorFST®inthetrunkofyourvehicle.
Ensurethereareanadequatenumberofmouthpiecesinthecarryingcase.
Alco‐SensorFST®istobesentforannualmaintenance.
4.4OperatorMenuFunctions
1. PowerthedeviceonbyfirstpressingandholdingtheMENUbutton,andsimultaneously
pressingtheONbutton.
2. PresstheONbuttontoscrollthroughtheentiremenu.PresstheMENUbuttontoselect
anoption.
Operatorswillseetheentiremenu;however,onlythefollowingfunctionscanbeaccessed:
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Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual18of302018‐12‐18
LAST:Displaysresultoflasttest
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ThedisplaywillshowtheLASTmessage,whichisthefirstoptioninthe
functionMenu.
Theresultofthelasttestwillbedisplayedbriefly(10seconds)andthen
devicewillautomaticallyturnoff.
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FOREXAMPLE: OR  OR  OR



PAS:Initiatespassivemodetest
(Nottobeusedforimpaireddrivinginvestigations)


RBL:Initiatesroadblockmodetest
(Outsidescopeofthiscourse)





Allowsoperationinaspecialmodeusedforrapidsamplingofsubjects,
asinaroadblock/checkstopscenario
CodE:Displayssoftwareversion



Allowstheoperatortoviewthesoftwareandfirmwareversionsofthe
device






Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual19of302018‐12‐18
4.5Confirmingsubjectsuitability
Atestonasubjectshallnotbeconducteduntil:
1. 15minutesafterthetimetheofficerbelievesalcoholhaslastbeenconsumed
2. 5minutesafterthetimetheofficerbelievesanythinghasbeentakenbymouth
3. 5minutesafterthetimetheofficerbelievesanythinghasbeensmoked.
Mouthalcohol
Mouthalcoholisresidualalcoholremaininginthemouthfromtherecentconsumptionofan
alcoholicdrink,regurgitationofstomachcontentscontainingalcohol,fromaburp,belchor
vomit,orrecentuseofmouthwashorbreathfreshenerscontainingalcohol.Theconcentration
ofalcoholinbeveragealcoholorbreathfreshenersismuchhigherthaninthebreathofa
personwhohasconsumedalcohol.Alldeeplungbreathsamplesoriginateinalowerpartofthe
lungsandpassthroughthemouthbeforeenteringtheAlco‐SensorFST®.
Whenmouthalcoholispresent,therawalcohol,becauseofitshighconcentration,addsmore
alcoholtothebreathsampleandproducesafalsehighresult.Mouthalcoholdisappears
rapidly,usuallyin15minutesorless.Priortoadministeringthebreathtest,ensure15minutes
haspassedfromthetimeofthelastdrink.Thiswillminimizethepossibilityofafalselyhigh
Alco‐SensorFST®result.
Objectsinmouth
Itisimportantthatneithercoldnorhotbeveragesareplacedinthemouthimmediatelypriorto
thebreathtest.Abreathtestsubjectmayplaceobjectsinthemouth(e.g.candy,coins,
matches,gum)inanattempttoavoidthetestoralterthetestresults.Ifthesubjecthasplaced
anythingintheirmouthhavethesubjectremovetheobjectfromtheirmouthand/orstop
drinking.Waitatleastfive(5)minutesforthemouthtemperaturetostabilizebeforetakinga
breathsample.Apersoncanalsochokeontheseobjectsmakingthemunsafe.
Tobacco
UndernocircumstancesshouldrawcigarettesmokebeblowndirectlyintotheAlco‐Sensor
FST®,asitmayshortenthelifeofthefuelcellsensor.Tobaccosmokewilldamagethesensor.

4.6OperatingtheAlco‐SensorFST®
REMINDER:Beawareofofficerandsubjectsafetyatalltimes.

ASDsrequireaservicecheckeveryyearandacalibrationcheckevery4weeks(28days).
Operatorsshouldcheckboththeserviceandcalibrationtagsonthedevicebeforeanyintended
use.IfthecurrentdateisbeyondtheServiceExpiryDateortheCalibrationExpiryDate,you
mustnotusethescreeningdevice.Recordthedeviceserialnumberandexpirydatesinyour
notebook.


Alco‐SensorFST® Operator’s Manual
PROTECTEDA
Alco‐SensorFST®Operator’sManual20of302018‐12‐18
1. Installaclean,unusedAlco‐SensorFST®mouthpiecefromasealedbag.Thismouthpiece
isspecificallydesignedtobeusedwiththeAlco‐SensorFST®.Handlethemouthpiece
(beforeandafterbreathtest)inasanitarymanner.
2. DepressthePowerONbutton.Asinglebeepwillbeheardandthedisplaywillshow
temperatureandbatterystrength.




TheBatteryStrengthIndicatorandTemperaturein°C(e.g.27c)willbe
displayedmomentarilyafterthedeviceispoweredON.Aswell,a
batteryindicatorwillbedisplayedindicatingthecurrentconditionofthe
battery.Ifthedevicedoesnothavesufficientbatterypowertoperform
atesteitherthedevicedisplaywillnotpowerONorBATwillbe
displayedandtestingwillbedisabled.
TheAlco‐SensorFST®isdesignedtooperatewhenthedevice
temperature(nottheambienttemperature)isbetween‐12°Cand55°C.
Ifthetemperatureisoutsideoftheproperoperatingrange,thedevice
willindicateTOOHOTorTOOColdbeforepoweringOFF.Ifyoumust
performatestwiththedevice,placeitinanenvironmentthatwillbring
ittowithintheoperatingtemperaturerange.

3. Performanairblanktest







Anairblanktest(BlNK)isrunautomaticallybythedevicetoensurethat
thereisnotalcoholpresentfromaprevioustest.

Theautomaticblanktestmustresultinazero(0)readingbeforethe
devicewilladvancetothenextstepinthetestingprotocol.Afterthe
zero(0)isdisplayed,thedevicewillprompttheoperatortoWAITfor
thenextprompt.
Iftheresultoftheblanktestisnotzero,astatusmessageofNULL/FAIL
willbegenerated.Thetestsequencewillbeaborted.Ensurethata
newmouthpieceisusedandthatthereisnoambientalcohol
contamination.TheresultoftheBlankCheckmustbe“0”“WAIT”
beforethedevicewillcontinuewiththetestsequence.




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