DUI Breathalyzers Found To Be Faulty

Our Chicago DUI Attorneys have long argued that the results of breathalyzers are flawed. Now, more proof that the machines should not be relied on to convict anyone.

Audit : Number of inflated DUI tests has doubled

JOHN C. ENSSLIN

The number of flawed blood alcohol tests has doubled since a Colorado Springs Police Crime Lab internal audit last year discovered that some results were inflated, authorities said last week.

Results in 167 DUI cases have been called into question, up from the initial 82 that were disclosed in December, according to 4th Judicial District Senior Deputy District Attorney Frederick Stein.

On Dec. 11, the police department reported that a routine audit had discovered the errors and began both an internal and external investigation into how reported test results came in higher than the actual level.

At the time, the department started re-testing about 1,000 blood alcohol test results taken since January 2009.

Did the audit mention how many people were wrongly convicted based on these faulty machines?

“I can’t say anything definitive about the underlying cause,” Whitlock said. “What has occurred is that we’ve narrowed it down to the point where we believe it is likely a human error. We believe very strongly that it’s not an equipment failure or something inherent in the lab itself.”

Oh, of course. Human error. In other words, “it’s not that the machines are faulty, if that’s what you think”.