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Ohio officers’ new tool records eye movement to spot drunk drivers over Labor Day weekend

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

September 3, 2023 4:00 AM

Funding will help strengthen law enforcement’s capability on Ohio’s roads to detect and deter impaired drivers. Ohio State Highway Patrol

Law enforcement officers in Ohio will soon use high-definition digital video technology to record the eye movements and other physical responses of suspected drunk drivers.

The DAX Evidence Recorder will record people stopped by law enforcement.

The recorders have a video screen, an infrared video camera, an integrated pair of pen lights aimed at each eye and an interface where the subject’s forehead, nose and eyes would go.

Here’s a video of the device in action.

State officials believe the reports will be soon admissible in court and prosecutors can access the audio and video recordings for future cases as evidence.

The Ohio Traffic Safety Office reported they were awarded a $15,087 grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association and Responsibility.org to help their efforts to stop distracted and impaired driving over Labor Day and throughout the rest of 2023.

The funding will help strengthen law enforcement’s ability to detect and deter impaired drivers on Ohio’s roads.

“Since 2018, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has made over 100,000 OVI arrests. Nearly one in four were suspected to involve marijuana or other drug impairment,” said Emily Davidson, OTSO director. “This behavior must be addressed to save lives. By providing law enforcement with the tools, resources, and training to better recognize impairment, officers can identify and remove dangerous drivers from the road.”