Thursday, March 2, 2017, 9:08 AM

Thursday, March 2, 2017, 9:08 AM

Oklahoma is now testing a new system that will enable law enforcement to have nearly real-time information on drunk drivers.

“The IDEA Act is a game changer for public safety in Oklahoma,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael C. Thompson said. “For years, law enforcement officers and the courts have been plagued by the inability to accurately track impaired and drunk drivers in Oklahoma. The IDEA Act levels the playing field with law enforcement and drunk drivers, and enables accountability.”

The system:

Creates a way for law enforcement officers to see, nearly in real time, the location of all impaired driving offenses and the location where the last drink was consumed, when known.

Provides law enforcement officers with a searchable database to identify previous arrests and whether those arrests were related to impairment by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.

Creates a standardized impaired driving arrest report for all law enforcement officers to utilize and to provide to prosecutors.

“The goal is to provide every law enforcement officer with a modern database to search and enter impaired driving arrest,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol Captain Ronnie Hampton said. “This information will allow countermeasures to identify areas where impaired driving poses the greatest risk, and to help prevent overserving of alcoholic beverages.”