Montana Sheriffs & Peace Officers Association

MIDAC

Mobile Impaired Driver Assessment Center

MIDAC The Montana Highway Patrol operates and maintains a specifically equipped 32 foot vehicle designed to enable law enforcement officers to process the impaired driver. The MIDAC unit was funded through a grant awarded by NHTSA through Montana Department of Transportation office of highway Traffic Safety in 2007 and built by NOMAD Industries in Kalispell, Montana.

The primary mission is to reduce fatalities, injuries and loss of property due to DUI crashes within the state of Montana. This is accomplished through proactive enforcement of DUI/DUID laws, providing training and education to law enforcement officers and the public, providing support to law enforcement officers by reducing the amount of time spent processing and transport of DUI/DUID offenders after arrest.

MIDAC Use of this vehicle will help maximize the deterrent effect and increase perception of “risk of apprehension” of motorists who would operate a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The fact is that drivers who drink too much believe that they stand little chance of being detected and arrested. One reason is because of their choice of route home. Studies have shown that increasing the perceived threat of detection is one of the strongest deterrents to drinking and driving. The MIDAC unit increases that threat of detection by allowing law enforcement officers to work in a specific area and not have to transport the impaired driver long distances for processing, thus freeing up more time for the law enforcement officer to work traffic in distant areas of the state of Montana.

The MIDAC is equipped with an intoxilyzer 8000 and all forms associated with a DUI/DUID arrest.

MIDAC The MIDAC is also capable of producing its own wireless “Halo”.

With all fuel tanks full the MIDAC can stay on-station 24/7 for three days. The vehicle is equipped with fresh water, shower and restroom. An office area is available for writing reports.

The MIDAC unit is available for use by all law enforcement agencies but will be operated only by qualified MHP officers.

Request for use of the MIDAC vehicle should include a short email or letter including the following:

Description of the event
The number of law enforcement involved in the operation
The date the MIDAC is to be utilized
Contact persons name, title, agency work and cell phone numbers
Location of the parking area for the MIDAC unit
Other agencies that may participate

The contact person listed on the application will be notified if the MIDAC is available. Due to the number of requests received, there will be dates that the MIDAC is unavailable. An important consideration will be the availability of qualified MHP operators for the vehicle.

The MIDAC is not a prisoner transport or holding facility. An arrested subject is the responsibility of the arresting officer and not the MIDAC operators.

Once an officer is finished processing a subject, the MIDAC operator will burn a DVD of the processing and give to the arresting officer. The arresting officer then is the responsible person for maintaining the DVD video evidence of the arrest.