November 2008 - Posts

• Here Come the Feds…

  As everyone knows, in our federal system of government most laws are enacted and enforced by the individual states.  Burglary, murder, rape, larceny — all are defined, enforced and prosecuted by the state or local governments.  Until recently… The laws, evidence and procedures concerning drunk driving are increasingly coming under the control of the federal government.  Over recent [...] Posted Nov 28 2008, 10:17 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Latest Weapon: Scare Kids with Fake DUI Arrests

  A few months ago I posted about a staged scene designed by MADD in which police officers came to a high school and falsely told students in 20 classrooms that one of their classmates had been killed in a drunk driving accident.  Before they were told the truth hours later, many of the kids "were driven to tears – a few to [...] Posted Nov 22 2008, 01:03 PM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Truth and Justice in the “War on Drunk Driving”

  As any experienced criminal attorney knows, truth, justice and fairness can be rare commodities in our courts when dealing with a drunk driving offense. This has become such a common phenomena that it has acquired a label: "The DUI exception to the Constitution". When it comes to cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol [...] Posted Nov 18 2008, 05:15 PM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Breathalayzer Manufacturer Thumbs Noses at Courts

  Last week I mentioned how manufacturers across the country were refusing to turn over the critical software code in their breath-testing machines.  See What Are Breathalyzer Manufacturers Hiding?  Just how far are they willing to go to keep us from looking inside these secret black boxes that determine guilt or innocence?  A follow-up story in today’s [...] Posted Nov 10 2008, 11:33 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• Why Do Police Refuse to Use Videotapes?

  Some police agencies around the country use videotapes as part of their drunk driving investigations.  The vast majority, however, do not — despite their low cost, ease of use and invaluable evidence as to driving patterns, physical symptoms, slurred speech, poor balance, incriminating statements and performance on "field sobriety tests". Why don’t they use them?  And why, [...] Posted Nov 07 2008, 09:36 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• News From the Front…

  Well, I’ve posted on drunk driving arrests involving horses, lawn mowers, wheelchairs, walking a bicycle – even playing with a foot-high toy bike, so maybe this will come as no surprise…. Zamboni Driver Charged with Drunk Driving Kingsville, Ont.  Nov 1  -  A 34-year-old woman from Kingsville, Ont., has been charged with impaired driving — on a Zamboni. Provincial police say [...] Posted Nov 04 2008, 10:44 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog

• What Are Breathalyzer Manufacturers Hiding?

  I’ve posted repeatedly in the past about the continuing refusal of the manufacturers of various breath-testing machines to devulge the secret software used to run them.  The readings of these devices are, of course, critical:  tens of thousands of citizens continue to be accused and convicted based based upon them. What are they hiding? The courts in a number of states [...] Posted Nov 02 2008, 08:34 AM by DUI BLOG Filed under: Duiblog