Anchorage -- State legislators, members of the Mayor's DUI Prevention Task Force and others will submit themselves to field sobriety checks today to help local police practice the skills and techniques they use in their response to the crisis of drunk driving on Alaska's highways.

Test participants will consume measured quantities of alcohol, and then undergo breathalyzer and other standard sobriety tests administered by Anchorage police officers and trainees. The procedure will begin at 4 p.m. at the Anchorage Police Department Training Academy, at 3760 W. Dimond Blvd.

"Almost all drinkers think they can tell when they're safe to drive," said Rep. Norman Rokeberg (R-Anchorage). "This demonstration will help those of us seeking solutions to the drunk driving crisis see, first-hand, how police measure blood-alcohol content, and how easy it is to exceed the legal limit inadvertently."

Rokeberg said the exercise has three primary goals:

• To improve public understanding of how little alcohol it takes to exceed either the proposed 0.08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) limit, or the current 0.10 percent limit, for legal driving;
• To afford local law enforcement officials the opportunity to earn or renew state certification in the administration of field sobriety tests;
• To familiarize legislators and task force members likely to deal with the drunk driving issue in the next Legislature with the techniques and equipment police use on the street.

The tests will be conducted under the direction of Officer Don Mann of the Anchorage Police Department. Alcohol used in the testing will be supplied by private sources and not at state expense. Designated drivers will ensure that participants get home safely, without danger to themselves or others

Legislators expected to attend include Reps. Rokeberg, Lisa Murkowski, Andrew Halcro, Joe Green, Eric Croft, and Sen. Loren Leman, all of Anchorage. Other expected attendees from the task force include Co-Chair Bob Bailey, member Denise Henderson, and members representing the hospitality industry.

Members of the press are asked not to publish or broadcast images identifying impaired participants.