San Diego DUI Scram Program: Remote Alcohol Monitoring
Scram, or Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor, is a new sentencing alternative available to California Courts when punishing DUI offenders with prior drunk driving related convictions, or repeat offenders.
Scram & San Diego DUI Cases
The California Criminal Justice system is finding that conventional measures, penalties and sanctions meant to deter repeat DUI violations by prior offenders are ineffective at reducing recidivism.
Scram is a fairly new alternative sentencing option that is intended to rehabilitate the offender through constant monitoring of their alcohol abstinence prior to the offender getting behind the wheel, notifying a central command center at an earlier stage than an ignition interlock device, if the defendant violates their probationary terms which will include complete abstinence from any form of alcohol.
The Scram apparatus is considered very reliable at detecting even the slightest amount of alcohol in the subject's system, and the courts reason that it is more advantageous to deter the defendant from drinking than it is to deter them from driving once alcohol has been consumed.
Using transdermal alcohol sensors, the scram device is able to measure even the minute amount of alcohol ingested by the person being monitored.
How SCRAM Anklet Device Works
The SCRAM monitoring system consists of an ankle device that must be worn by the defendant twenty-four hours per day. The SCRAM ankle bracelet is water resistant, tamper proof, it weighs only eight ounces and consists of two main parts:
a. The anklet contains a transdermal ethanol vapor sensory mechanism that detects and measures alcohol as it migrates through the skin.
b. An electronic component is also attached to the anklet to control the system, communicate with the control center, transfer and store data pertaining to the defendant's bio-chemistry and alcohol intake, and detect tampering.
How SCRAM Device Data is Transmitted and Monitored
The anklet device performs up to 48 inconspicuous tests per day, periodically sending data reports as scheduled to the remote supervisory center.
The results from each sensory test that the SCRAM anklet device performs is time-stamped, date-stamped, recorded and stored in a memory chip within the apparatus until it is electronically and remotely transmitted to the monitoring facility via a modem installed in the defendant's residence.
Alcohol Positive SCRAM Test
If the sensory anklet detects any presence of alcohol through the defendant's skin, it will immediately contact the supervisory authority via the in-home modem. The monitoring facility will then contact the Court and conditional action will be taken against the defendant.
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