Why there are 2 breathalyzer booths at Country Thunder: 'We've had way too many deaths'

Country Thunder, a four-day music festival in Florence, has two booths offering free breathalyzers this year.

Pinal County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Lauren Reimer shared there were 16 DUIs in 2021. The booths are part of an effort to see even lower numbers this year.

Arizona is a zero tolerance state, for driving under the influence, or DUI, meaning you can be arrested with a blood-alcohol content of less than the legal limit of 0.08 percent, if law enforcement believes you're impaired.

There are no legal ramifications for the tests, which are free and provide quick results of blood alcohol levels.

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Where are the breathalyzer booths located?

Anthony Ramirez from Accident Law Group operates one of the booths where people can receive a voluntary breathalyzer test before leaving the festival to make sure they're not over the legal limit.

The booth, which has been set up at Country Thunder Arizona for the last six years, is located across from the ice cream truck in the middle of the festival. A taxi next to the booth is meant to draw attention.

"We are not against drinking. We are against drinking and driving. Just because people don't feel impaired does not mean that they are not impaired," said Ramirez, who partners with MADD Arizona and Arizona Rangers to ensure that everyone gets home safe without being arrested.

Sara Goucher decided to get breathalyzed with two friends to track her alcohol intake.

".01. This is lower than I thought it would be," Goucher said. "Last night I drank a lot so I thought it to be higher."

The other breathalyzer booth is the Pinal County Attorney's Office Command Center. The booth, marked with the Pinal County Attorney's Office Command Center logo, has been at the festival for the last two years. It's well placed near the festival exit in hopes of reminding people they should check their limits before getting on the road.

Latisha Joseph, a community liaison for the command center, said that the highest number they've seen so far this year at the breathalyzer station was .42. Anything over .30 is a dangerously high level that can result in alcohol poisoning, which can be a life-threatening condition.

"We want to make sure people are aware that we want to be involved and help educate. We've had way too many deaths on the road so we want to make sure people are aware," said Joseph.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about the breathalyzer booths at Country Thunder Arizona