Tag Archives: breath alcohol test

On Friday, February 3, the final day of hearings regarding the scientific reliability of the Draeger Alcotest 9510 breath test machines, a representative from Draeger testified that a previously unknown error appears to have been caused because the machines were programmed to use an incorrect value during performance checks and calibration. The 9510 machines use two sensors to measure blood alcohol: An infrared sensor, as required by statute, and an electro-chemical fuel cell. During calibration, the measurements of the two ... Read More »

What are judges and prosecutors concerned with on a DWI? One of their main concerns is recidivism. Contrary to popular belief, the average rate of repeat for a first time DWI is approximately 21%[i]. Most first time DWI offenders made a mistake and will never be back in the system. In fact, most are going to punish themselves far greater than what a court or prosecutor could do to them. Does BAC (blood alcohol concentration) on their DWI predict their ... Read More »

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently modified the scheduling order set by the District Court Department regarding the defense bar’s challenge to the scientific reliability of the Draeger Alcotest 9510 breath test machines. Justice Botsford, citing the complex nature of the matter, extended the litigation into next year. The modified schedule allows the defense bar more time to examine the machines and for all parties to produce and review expert opinions. Pursuant to the modified schedule, the defense bar must ... Read More »

As DUI defense practitioners are well aware, a transdermal monitoring device such as a “SCRAM” device (a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring Device) is a prevalent but sometimes onerous tool in the bond condition, plea bargaining and sentencing processes. A client may be ordered to wear a SCRAM device ankle bracelet prior to trial, during probation, or as part of a compromised resolution of the case. The transdermal monitoring device continuously monitors a person’s blood alcohol level through skin contact ... Read More »

Yesterday afternoon Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signed into law Alabama Act 2016-152 (Senate Bill 259), which alters the affect a DUI acquittal, dismissal or nolle prose has on commercial driver license holders.  The vast majority if DUI criminal prosecutions in Alabama have a companion, civil driver license suspension case, in which the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency attempts to administratively suspend the accused’s driver license for blowing over the legal limit or refusing to take a breath alcohol test.    People ... Read More »

Stephen Daniels of DUI UNDO Consultants has announced a new challenge he discovered while spending time trolling the Florida Administrative Rules regarding breath testing in Florida.  Under Florida Administrative Code section 11D-8 which covers the testing of substances for alcohol in DUI cases, an evidentary breath test instrument must be registered prior to use.  The rules under 11D8-004(4) state that Department Inspectors shall be employed… to register evidentary breath test instruments…  Until the last 30 registrations, all breath test instruments ... Read More »

In a recent article published by WSMV-TV in Nashville, Tennessee, several Nashville defense lawyers are challenging the results of a specific breath testing device because of some calibration issues with the device that may have affected the results of the breath test. Calibration is a comparison of measurements – often of known samples so that when unknown samples are tested, they will be presumed to be accurate. The breath test device in question is the EC/IR II that is manufactured ... Read More »

A new formulation of alcohol in powdered form has apparently been approved by the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. What this will mean when it comes to state laws governing driving while under the influence of alcohol remains to be fully understood, but some states are already enacting legislation to restrict or even to prohibit the sale of the new product. The inventor of the new product has named it “Palcohol.” The formulation for how it is ... Read More »

Breathing into a Intoxilyzer can feel like testifying against oneself. From the perspective of the person being subject to a breath test, there is no reasoning with it, and no arguing against it. Our faith in modern technology means that technology cannot lie. Or so police officers, prosecutors and their expert witnesses would like you to believe. But is that really the case? Are breathalyzer/Intoxilyzer tests infallible? Part of establishing the existence of a reasonable doubt when it comes to ... Read More »

Last year, Senate Democrats in Colorado killed a bill that would have made repeat DUI offenses a felony offense in Colorado, much to the surprise and chagrin of the proposed law’s supporters. But now a Weld County state representative is trying again, with a new bill that, if passed, would classify a charged driver’s third DUI in seven years as a class 4 felony.  A class 4 felony carries a 2-6 year prison sentence followed by a mandatory 5 year period of parole.  The ... Read More »