SCRAM Bracelets, Money, and Big Brother
From the Joliet Herald News, “SCRAM Bracelet Saves More Than Money”:
David Talarico's business features a high-tech bracelet that has the potential to save tax dollars and -- more importantly -- lives.
The devices, called SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor), detect alcohol use. The bracelets are worn on the ankle by people who have abused alcohol and are in trouble with the law. Instead of going to jail, offenders wear SCRAM bracelets that monitor their bodies for alcohol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
OK. So that’s what the SCRAM bracelet is, and yes, it is being used in Austin as well as Illinois.
For folks released on bond for a DWI 2nd offense or higher that are required by statute to install an Ignition Interlock Device, SCRAM sometimes makes sense. It allows them access to many vehicles, instead of just one, and still fulfills the requirement that ‘some machine is making sure they didn’t consume alcohol’ before starting a car. Some folks can’t be tied down to just one vehicle.
However, it is definitely more not less expensive than an Ignition Interlock. [Posting on a Sunday night; I’ll try to get some exact figures on that soon.]
The article continues:
Though some may think the bracelets are intrusive, Talarico, president of Alcohol Monitors of Illinois Inc., thinks they're the wave of the future.
"People call this 'Big Brother,' but the reality is, these are for the people who need a big brother to help them along," he said. "Clearly if somebody can't stay sober on their own, they'll have to go to jail."
The first paragraph sets up a false dichotomy between something being “intrusive” vs. “being the wave of the future”.
And I just want to be clear on this: Talarico, based on your quote, you are at least admitting that it is Big Brother. Right? It’s just that Big Brother is or can be a good thing – that’s your point.
The article ends with an interesting quote from Talarico. I’m just going to quote it, and not comment. It’s one of those “no comment necessary” situations:
He believes the SCRAM bracelet is an important weapon to fight alcohol abuse.
Being in this business, you see both sides of it," he said. "I see SCRAM almost like the war on terror. You never know what you're preventing, but if you believe in what you're doing you know you're doing good."
OK, I said I wouldn’t comment, but I’ve got an overwhelming urge to repeat that last line:
You never know what you're preventing, but if you believe in what you're doing you know you're doing good.
I don't know if this is going to work. It's like house arrest.
I was forced to wear the SCRAM bracelet in addition to having ignition interlock in Travis Co. after being arrested for a second DWI while being on probation for the first. It costs about $75 to be put on and $12 per day to wear it. I felt it had many flaws. It left me with a horrible rash which is still visible on my calf despite having it removed about 6 months ago. The woman who installed it said it was common to have irritation. It also left my ankle on that foot very bruised to the point that it was extremely painful to walk. Then, I was brought into court due to having a positive response, although it had been at least 4 months since I had consumed any alcohol. The judge had attended a conference on SCRAM in which she learned false positives were very common, so she gave me the benefit of the doubt. However, I was working in a restaurant that had cameras the entire time my alcohol report had spiked, so I could prove I was sober. I was still forced to quit my job which left me with no way to pay the almost $400 per month fee. So I understand it is a deterrent to drinking, but I believe it is cruel and unusual punishment.
i had this on 4 almost 3 weeks. i am allergic to any types of metal on bare skin. i have half dollar scabs on each side of my left ankle. the brainacts at scram put a scram 2 on my rightankle. same thing happened. i went to my doc. today. he wants it off now. due to infection and possibe blood and bone infection.if that happens its 6 to 6 months of a i. v. to stop the infection. no 1 told me about that! it might be rare but it does happen. no 1 at scram gives a shit. they will when they get served with a lawsuit. again, freedom of speech. i am a first time offender. in the state of il. no tickets in 21 yrs. 4 them to slap this thing on is so wrong. dont get me wrong people on 2 nd or third or more should get what they deserve. . but who is paying off who????????
I wore one in 2005 for 8 months. Due to 3 false-positives and one that led to a conviction because I lacked witnesses I started an intense study to find why I lost $14,000 for an offense that did not occur and blogged it. I found that AMS's testing could have "proved my innocence" for it shows that saran wrap, a black trash bag, cardboard and a sock all failed to mask a drinking episode, the read was muted but still a positive. So many Constitutional violations including the Right to Bodily Integrity, I too had the abrasions (pictures available)that are now permanent scars.
I also am wearing the SCRAM moniter.. I am a first time offender and this thing is aweful I try to clean the area and completly dry it its impossible and it stinks like crap!!!!!!! GA !!!
I find it ironic that this is a blog on a DUI attorney's website, and he won't help fight this thing. I am not a lawyer, however I am collecting people's stories of their false positives and intend to sue AMS. If you will, please forward your issues with scram to fightscraminjustice@gmail.com. Join in the fight. I already have several documentations. It's one thing to punish the begavior, but to do so with technology that is questionable and a court system that is sleeping is absolutely abhorrent.
Lester:
Thanks for stopping by, but I'm not sure why you label me as an attorney that won't fight SCRAM.
In fact, I have a case right now - a probation revocation - where I am doing just that...
Jamie
I'm curious how you are coming along with this? I was put on it 3 weeks ago after I was released after doing almost 7 months of jail on a DUI, The Appelate Court ordered me to be released on appeal with a ROR bond and the Court Of Common Please (Lower Court) judge seems he is above and beyond them and over-rided my bond and ordered me to wear the scram and report to probation every week. Here is my concern how can that seem fair, I got out on appeal and have to pay $15 a day to wear this, when that judge was wrong in my trial and tainted the jury and he's pissed. Anyway, I have already had 2 false positives, and haven't drank yet, I went straight to probation and got tested when they called and they released me, and said it must've been something in the air.....!!!!!! Something in the air, thats complete crap, this thing is gonna put ALOT of innocent people in jail with these false positives and if they can't prove it. A complete constituitional violation if you ask me. I'm just curious what you have come up with so far.
I have the scram on my ankle now for 2 and a half months. The battery has already had to be changed twice, it gave two false reading which I can prove and now they called saying that I must come in because the bracelet is defective and I need a new one. What is going on, Iam paying $10 a day for something that is not working. Help. Peter 727-808-6390
I have the scram on my ankle now for 2 and a half months. The battery has already had to be changed twice, it gave two false reading which I can prove and now they called saying that I must come in because the bracelet is defective and I need a new one. What is going on, Iam paying $10 a day for something that is not working. Help. Peter 727-808-6390
I am being charged with a 3rd offense dui and part of my bond was to wear a scram ankle monitor and not to drive. Its costing $420.00 per month which is crazy with todays economy issues. So far I haven't seen where they order both but maybe there are cases. The scram has been on me for a little more than 3 weeks and has caused major irritation, gave 3 tampering reading that were false and has had the battery go dead twice and they think that I am causing it. What they don't tell you is that if you work in a job that your moving alot its easy to hit the scram which leads to severe pain and a bruised bone. They also tell you to thoroughly clean and dry underneath after you shower. Thats impossible without causing it to give a tampering reading. I am curious how my leg will look when it is taken off. I have read alot on the internet about the scram and I don't really know what to think about the accuracy of the device. I am not worried because I am not drinking or anything but if it gives false readings and causes problems like this, isn't it a bit too unreliable just to throw on people and depend on?
I have had the scram on for 3 months. One week after having it put on they said I had a confirmed consumption. This is wrong. I have not had anything to drink. I was never given any information on what could set this thing off. I am facing prison time for something I did not do. Probation didn't even inform me about this until it was to late to do an 80 hr UA. Any help on how to prove this would be appreciated.
I have had this scram bracelet on for about 2 months now, after pleading not guilty at my araignment. It is my second, my first was over 4 years ago. My court date is coming up, in 2 weeks, and i'm hoping that this bracelet will be removed at that time. I did not blow when asked, so i'm wondering how they can put this alcohol monitoring system on me when my case hasn't even been decided yet. Like pretty much every one else, I have bruising on my ankles and I just got this raised mark on my leg right where the bracelet sits which is extremely painful. I go running every day too, and this thing is preventing me from staying in shape and healthy because it's too painful now to even get on the treadmill or do any sort of cardio for that matter. I also haven't slept for more than 4 hours at once since thing has been put on...there's got to be a way to fight this thing!!
I was a director for a southern state for the SCRAM bracelet. Contact me for info and some surprising facts about this device. There are other less invasive and much, much less expensive models other than SCRAM out there. Write me or call me at 919-593-7684. There are more than one way to skin a cat.
HELP!!! I have been wearing a scram since Aug. without incodent and have not drank anything since april of 08. I am from a very strict non drinking family and was told today from my PO that I had a reading of positive on Thanksgiving day starting at 3:00pm and tapering down till 9:00 that night, I washed my truck that day around 1:30 and ate thanksgiving at my mothers house surrounded by family and played X box and ate pie until bed time. My question is what can cause these things to read positive? Could it be food, I don't expect the PO will take familys word as a witness but there were 12 people all not drinking and eating a lot all day until around 10 or 11 that night.
My husband has been on scram for about 3 months now and hasn't experienced any problems yet (knock on wood)...we got another month and a half to go. However tonight he used some icy hot and we later learned it had an inactive ingredient of stearyl alcohol in it and both are now freaking out because if this shows as a reading of consumption he's going to prison...anyone know if it will or how we would be able to fight it if it does? Thanks!
i do agee the braclet is a joke ive been wearing one for three months now and 4 one of them months they made me wear it while i was incarcerated n let me tell ya that was horrible ....and i dont see y u cant drink alcohol is legal if ur over 21 the main problem is getting in a car and drinkin ...
Today, April 11, 2009, I sent the following request to Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. through the "contact us" page on their web site (http://www.alcoholmonitoring.com/index/about/contact-us):
"My son , of Yorkville, Illinois was recently fitted with a monitoring device. On I believe four occasions, he registered alcohol readings, one of these readings has resulted in pending probation violation proceedings.
Based on a SCRAM report that we have not been permitted to see, the Kane County, Illinois State's Attorney claims that the my son unlawfully consumed alcohol/had alcohol in his body from 5:05 PM on February 28, 2009 until 4:55 AM on March 1st. I as well as several other people could competently testify that they were with my son either for the entire time or for a substantial portion of the evening and at no time did he consume alcohol.
The following is a partial list of individuals who were with my son during the listed time periods and would testify that the only liquid he consumed during the time they were with him was bottled water. They would further testify that he did not exhibit any mannerisms of a person who had consumed alcohol and did not smell of alcohol:
N was with the Defendant from approximately 1:00 PM until approximately 2:30 AM
J was with the Defendant from approximately 1:00 PM until approximately 5:00 PM
C was with the Defendant from approximately 6:00 PM until approximately 1:30 AM
M was with the Defendant from approximately 6:00 PM until approximately 1:30 AM
C was with the Defendant from approximately 7:00 PM until approximately 12:30 AM
R was with the Defendant from approximately 7:00 PM until approximately 12:30 AM
M was with the Defendant from approximately 7:00 PM until approximately 1:30 AM
S was with the Defendant from approximately 7:00 PM until approximately 1:30 AM
M was with the Defendant from approximately 6:00 PM until approximately 1:30 AM
The reason there are so many individuals who can remember what my son was doing or not doing is because on February 28th all of us were attending a Gretchen Wilson/John Rich/Jeffrey Steele concert at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. Perhaps there were environmental reasons for the false positive; the device used to monitor my sons blood may be malfunctioning, or possibly the transmission or the reading by the technician were faulty. Regardless, my son DID NOT consume any alcohol between 5:05 and approximately 2:30. We can't attest to his abstinence after we all left him at about 2:30AM.
I would bet my life that he did not consume alcohol between 12 noon on the 28th to 2:30 AM on the 1st. There are probably 100s of known and twice as many unknown reasons why there would be a false positive read. I must establish which of these reasons apply to my sons case. I believe my son's life is at stake. If he is wrongly sentenced to prison I could never forgive myself if I failed to do everything in my power to exonerate him from the charges.
We can't afford expert witnesses, a top notch defense attorney or investigators who might establish the cause of the false positive reading. Hopefully in the interests of justice you will provide us with the information and technical information we could use to establish beyond doubt that he did not consume alcohol on the dates charged.
We look forward to hopefully receiving all of the available information with which we can establish what caused the false positive reading.
Thank you."
I will let you know what response if any I receive from SCRAM. In the interim, take a look at their web site and search their site for "false positive" :)
I have been wearing the scram anklet for a month already. I have court tomorrow and I hope they take it off. It is painful. I tried very hard to not mess with it when drying off after I shower and also when I sleep. I haven't consumed alcohol but Im a hairdresser and do work with chemicals at work that have alcohol ingredients and still set off the anklet. I receive phone calls from the scram people interogating me of where I was and what I was doing. I didnt care for that very much but since the lady was nice I didnt give her any attitude. Im also worried about my sentencing since I have set of the anklet with work issues. I have written down all chemicals I work with to take with me for my defense. Perfumes, mouthwash, lotions and "ladies" care products for skin might contain alcohol especially "toner" so read the labels. This might sound silly but I would not kiss my boyfriend if I knew he had been drinking. I didnt dare ask but I was playing it safe. I just want this to be over. This sucks and theres people out there with problems that are not being tended to. I just want to take care of this matter, find out how much this is going to "cost" me and to get on with my life. Im a straight A student at the University of Phoenix and happened to be pulled over because I looked suspicious. That was the funniest pickup line ever!!! lol I hate to say this but scram does work but they need to work on it. misreadings could delay or misjudge a person. maybe they need to redesign it. I hope the scram bracelet helps individuals in need. I drink on occasion but noticed in the past month that I didnt really need to so it wont be a issue for me in the future. Good luck to all with scram
I was put on the SCRAM after receiving my second DWI only because I rolled my truck during the first one and didn't have a vehicle to have the breathalyzer installed. I don't mind it at all. I run anywhere from 3.2 - 5 miles per day and sometimes it slides down, but I just pull it up to tighten it and keep running. I also work in a lumber yard and I'm exposed to Ipe and Mesquite dust all day long. No rashes, nothing. I think everyone who complains about this are pussies. Again, this is why I'm hard and you're not. I have a huge bruise on the bottom of my ankle, but it doesn't bother me. That's like me complaining about my shoes because I have a blister, not because I have a blister from running over 25 miles a week. Sure, it'd be better not having it on, but we all did something to deserve it. And jail? Tell me who would really like to be in jail than have this on? I haven't had a misreading, and that's because I don't drink. Quit complaining everyone. I'm sure my ankle looks worse than most of yours, just let the extremity cry in pain rather than your voice.
After my 3rd DUI arrest in May, I went to jail for the weekend and bailed myself out Sunday. I proactively put myself on SCRAM prior to appearing in front of a judge. Since it is not court ordered, I was told by the SCRAM guy that I can take it off anytime I want. I don't want to drink, but I wanted to wear a dress to my son's HS graduation so I pulled the strap loose and took off the bracelet and put it back on the next morning. Now it doesn't vibrate on the 1/2 anymore. I forced a download to the monitoring center. Did I disable it by "tampering"? Now what?
I got sentinced to where the scram braclet for 5 years, yes years. I have a medical condition that causes ulcers on my feet and lower legs and the cream i was using to treat them had alcahol in it and it read a posative reading of .028 around midnight one night. I was with my gf and her mother that evening and they will testafy for me but i spent a month in jail and now have the scram as a condition of my bond. if i was going to drink on this bracelet it wouldnt be a .028 i would do it right. and this bracelet has caused large sores on my ancle that will not get better i had to switch ancls once because of this.
My son-in-law has been in the scram and went to his monitor today where he was informed he had a positive reading of 2.0 he has not had anything but gatorade. He is worried about jail, losing his job and home for something he did not do. I saw him the whole weekend and he was not drinking. he called and said he might have figured it out tanning lotion it is full of alcahol. i hope his judge has read about this thing.
i have had a scram device an for about 4 moonths now everything seems to be fine with it ,AMREADY FOR IT TO COME OFF,i pay 360 a monthit plus another 80 amonth forthe interlock in my truck i have had the scram replaced once and then later had the battery replaced too i guess its working fine whos to know, it doesnt tell if it is working properlyor nothing i could be paying all this money for a scam not scram
So I have had this scram on for 4 months and on Halloween it went off. They claimed that I was drinking all night and I totally wasn't. They confronted me on this after 24 hours... I immediately went to the hospital to get a blood alcohol test. Came up 0. But now if I can't prove that I wasn't drinking I'm going to jail. What do I do?
So I have had this scram on for 4 months and on Halloween it went off. They claimed that I was drinking all night and I totally wasn't. They confronted me on this after 24 hours... I immediately went to the hospital to get a blood alcohol test. Came up 0. But now if I can't prove that I wasn't drinking I'm going to jail. What do I do?
I have hadthe bracelet on sine @ 9/1. I agreed to ear it as part of my divorce custody issue because I had a DUI. I have had four positive readings which are times when of course I was not drinking.
Once I used a transdermal pain patch which seems to hve been the cause. The next two times times were consecutive days. I had been cooking and a large bottle of vanilla broke at my feet getting all over the bracelet. I cleaned it but I probably did not get it all out. I believe it must have dried and when it got wet again the next day reregistered. Dosn't sound plausable but that'sthe only thing I can think caused it. I just got another alert on the 17th to the 18th. I've done some rsearch and this could have been caused by my mass consumption of candy the last three days. (I'm not fat, just on a Butter finger kick) Suger is converted into alcohol and this coul trigger the bracelet. Of course sram is going to say that these icidents could not be the reason.
I found a web site which published a report conducted by Pacific Insiture for Researc and Evaluation. It was publised 11/2007. In this report it concluded that Scram reported some false positives without actual outside interferants (unless I read wrong)
I stand to lose physical custody of my kids because of this. I also had readings on another day which I also had a urine test done. The Scram people compared their results to a time period totally unrelated to the time the urine was done. they still have not provided my with the detailed results so I can see what was registered if at all.
I also think that there should be some kind of "level" reading if there is a "confirmed event. If someone has ingested alcohol ie candy or food. The level of alcohol in other test determines the amount (legally intoxicated) I have to believe that the levels associated for drinking ar higher. If someone is not registering enough alsohol to be drunk this should not be a posative reading.
Just my thoughts. When people are looking at grave circumstances, Jail, custody, etc It should be proven that they are drinking as defined by DWI laws not just the presense of alcohol.
What does everyone think