BROOKHAVEN — Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing gave an update on when the county would get a working DUI machine Monday morning. He was asked about the status during a regularly scheduled board meeting and stated they were at the mercy of the Department of Public Safety. 

The Department of Public Safety said Tuesday morning the new generation of DUI machines are coming. 

Supervisors voted to approve putting a card reader and printer in each patrol car when Rushing was asked about the DUI machine. Lincoln County has gone two years now without a DUI machine meaning anytime MHP, Brookhaven Police Department or Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office arrests someone on suspicion of a DUI they must obtain a blood warrant and take the suspect to the hospital. 

Rushing told the supervisors the blood tests cost the County money. He has asked the Department of Public Safety for an update on the DUI machine at their conferences and has received a new date for when it is expected to come in. 

“They are supposed to be ordering a new series now. They told us it would hopefully be here this fall,” Rushing said. “Those systems are owned by DPS, have to be certified by the crime lab and it is maintained by the crime lab. They have to be calibrated.” 

Rushing said the old DUI machine at the county jail was between 10 to 15 years old. DPS decided to not repair Lincoln County’s machine like they had originally planned too. The new series of DUI machines are now in at DPS but have not been issued out yet. 

According to DPS, the Mississippi State Forensics Lab is in the process of developing a plan to roll out the new Intoxilyzer 9000 machines throughout the state. The initial roll-out should start in the fall of 2024 and be completed in early 2025. 

“Due to the age of older model intoxilyzers, there were certain limitations on restoring certain devices,” DPS stated.

Wesson Police Department has a DUI machine and agencies within Lincoln County can use it, DPS stated. 

Lincoln County is still waiting for a new DUI machine. Rushing said he tried to buy one but DPS would not let them do it. 

“We are at their mercy. I have spoken with our commissioner. I don’t know what else we can do,” Rushing said. “I spoke to our legislators. We are at the mercy of DPS. It is sad and frustrating. We pay the costs on those blood kit tests, you have to wait on the tests to come back. I’ve been complaining for two years and hopefully we will have them this fall. If not, I will ask again in December.”