The East Earl Township Police Department has been handed a new tool to combat drunken driving.

Chief Kevin McCarthy announced at the supervisors' July 13 meeting that the department has acquired an elite alcohol detection device.

"This instrument … is only one of eight in the state," McCarthy said.

McCarthy is now certified to operate the department's DataMaster DMT breath-test instrument. Additionally, on June 28, all six full-time officers were certified to operate breath-test equipment after taking a 32-hour course conducted by the state Department of Education and sponsored by the state Department of Transportation.

"We're probably one of the few or only police departments in Pennsylvania that has every full-time officer certified to operate the testing equipment," McCarthy said.

According to McCarthy, the DataMaster DMT retails at approximately $7,000. Funds for the new equipment came from a grant secured by East Earl police through the office of state Rep. Gordon Denlinger.

According to published reviews, the DataMaster DMT comes with a stand-alone laser printer and a card reader for driver's licenses. The unit is smaller and lighter than its predecessor model, the BAC DataMaster.

After describing the department's operating procedures for handling drivers who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, McCarthy requested that the board approve a measure to recoup costs associated with conducting arrests.

Supervisors unanimously agreed to bill each defendant $135. The charge is levied only when a defendant is found guilty or pleads guilty.

In other police matters, McCarthy reported that the department responded to 117 calls in June. East Earl police provided 690 hours of coverage in East Earl and Terre Hill Borough, responded to six traffic accidents and conducted 29 criminal investigations in East Earl.

The department issued 113 traffic citations and filed 12 criminal law charges in June. The full police report is available for public review on the township information board in the township office.