Massachusetts DUI Lawyer Blog

Today, in the case of Commonwealth v. Gibson, 11-P-1107, the Massachusetts Appeals Court reversed an OUI conviction. The Court in Gibson reported the following facts:

In February of 2010, the defendant went to a couple of Super Bowl parties to watch the New Orleans play the Colts. In total Gibson drank four beers. Around 10:00 p.m. he started to drive home. He approached a red light. He waited for several seconds, became impatient, looked both ways and drove through the red light. He was pulled over. The investigating officer testified that he exhibited symptoms of alcohol impairment. Field Sobriety Tests were administered. Gibson failed each one of these tests. Consequently he was arrested. He never took the Breathalyzer Test. He was charged with OUI. During the deliberation process the jurors had a question about the absence of Breathalyzer Test evidence. Among other things, the judge told the jury that "a person does not have to take [the breathalyzer test]". Gibson was convicted of OUI and appealed. In reversing the jury's verdict, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that those words in response to the jury's question constitute improper on a defendant's right against self-incrimination. The error being one of constitutional magnitude required reversal of the OUI conviction.

Read Case:

Commonwealth v. Gibson, 11-P-1107

Massachusetts OUI Defense Law Firm

Drunk Driving Defense Attorney in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts the law is well settled that a person's refusal to take a Breathalyzer Test and/or Field Sobriety Tests cannot be used against him at trial. Such evidence is inadmissible in that it violates a person's right against self-incrimination. However, Massachusetts Courts have reasoned that since the general public is well aware of the existence of Breathalyzer Tests in OUI Cases there should be a limiting instruction addressing the issue, provided the defendant requests the instruction. That instruction prohibits reference to a defendant's legal right to refuse the Breathalyzer Test. Here, the instruction given by the judge violated that prohibition.

Now usually a case will not be reversed where the defense attorney did not object to the error. The Massachusetts Appellate Courts often deem the attorney's silence as strategic. Deference is given to a lawyers' trial tactics unless his performance is deemed ineffective. The Court in Gibson did not find the lawyer's actions to meet that standard. Rather, the Court found that the failure to object coupled with the improper instruction created a substantial risk of a miscarriage of justice warranting a reversal of the conviction. In more simplistic terms, the Court believed there is "a serious doubt whether the result of the trial might have been different had the error not been made". Gibson's Massachusetts Criminal Appeals Lawyer recognized this and by doing so was able to get his conviction reversed and to secure him a new trial.

Continue reading "Massachusetts OUI Conviction Reversed Due to Improper Instruction on Refusal to Take Breathalyzer Test" »

The Boston City Council proposed an ordinance on March 15, 2012 that would require valets to deny keys to those suspected of being drunk. In response, insurance company representatives have expressed concern that such an ordinance would raise costs and place an unreasonable amount of responsibility on valet attendants, according to the Boston Globe. One valet company owner told the Globe that valet attendants do not interact with patrons for a long enough period of time, often only seconds, to determine whether the operator is too drunk to drive. Like these others who are concerned, this Massachusetts OUI / DUI / DWI attorney has questions about this proposal.

This proposed ordinance seems to be a hot potato game of pass the liability. Thus, valet attendants, who interact with patrons for a matter of seconds and who are untrained in detecting drunkenness, might be more inclined to notify police of "suspected" drunk-drivers. Could information relative to what is typically a 3-5 second interaction (according to a Globe source) be enough to provide a reasonable suspicion for police to stop a driver?

The next issue involves the distinction between drinking and operating under the influence. It is not a crime to have a drink and drive. It is presumptively a crime to drive while having a BAC of .08 or more. It is a crime to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The proposed ordinance blurs that distinction and would effectively deprive anyone who has had a drink, regardless of BAC, of having the keys to their own car.

All of this may lead to the issue of paternalism v. personal autonomy in the context of drinking and driving. Certainly, drunk-driving is a problem in society. However, can one not make an un-coerced decision not to drive after having a drink? Does one need a valet attendant, an acquaintance of 3-5 seconds, to tell one that driving isn't an option? To what extent is it proper to use the instruments of law to force one into doing that which is "right" or "wise"?

In response to the last question above, our criminal law in Massachusetts is already designed to deter drinking and driving by imposing very severe, broad-brush penalties. If we need valet attendants to help enforce it, then perhaps those strict "deterrent" aspects are not working.

Continue reading "Massachusetts Insurance Companies Resist Law Requiring Valets to Deny Keys to Suspected Drunk Drivers" »

On June 23, 2011, the United States Supreme Court decided Bullcoming v. New Mexico, a case which shores up our constitutional safeguards and which will have important implications in Massachusetts OUI/DUI/DWI/drunk driving cases.

The facts, which were summarized in a previous blog post, were as follows: In 2005, Donald Bullcoming rear-ended a truck in New Mexico. The driver of the truck noticed that Bullcoming's eyes were blood shot and smelled alcohol on him, and he told his wife to call the police. Bullcoming left before the police arrived but was apprehended shortly thereafter. He failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for a violation of the New Mexico drunk-driving statute. Bullcoming refused to take a breath test, but a sample of his blood was drawn at a hospital pursuant to a warrant obtained by police. The sample was sent to the New Mexico Department of Health for blood alcohol concentration analysis. Such analysis involved operation of gas chromatograph machines and various steps susceptible to human error. The scientist who performed the test and signed the certification reported that Bullcoming had a BAC of .21, and Bullcoming was prosecuted for the more serious crime of aggravated DWI. At a trial by jury, the State introduced the findings as a business record during the testimony of a scientist who did not observe or review the test. Bullcoming appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court, which, considering Melendez-Diaz, acknowledged that the report was testimonial but concluded that admission of the report was constitutional because (1) the certifying scientist was a "mere scrivener" and (2) the testifying scientist was a qualified analyst capable of serving as a surrogate.

The question presented in Bullcoming, then, was whether the prosecution can constitutionally introduce a lab report, having a testimonial certification and made to prove a fact, through surrogate in-court testimony of a forensic scientist who neither signed the certification nor performed the test. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the New Mexico Supreme Court, holding that the Confrontation Clause does not permit such surrogate testimony. The accused has a right to be confronted with the certifying analyst, unless the analyst is unavailable and the accused has had an opportunity to cross examine that analyst before trial. Justice Ginsburg delivered the opinion of the Court. Justice Scalia joined the opinion in full. Justices Sotomayor and Kagan joined all but Part IV, and Justice Thomas joined all but Part IV and footnote 6.

Justice Kennedy, along with Justice Alito, Justice Breyer, and Chief Justice Roberts dissented. Much of the dissent expressed a continuing gripe concerning the Crawford line of decisions, of which Bullcoming is now a part.

Continue reading "United States Supreme Court Case Has Positive Implications For Massachusetts OUI Trials" »

Shayna Fernandez admitted to drinking her last beer as late as 4:30 in the morning this past Saturday. Just over two hours later she was involved in an accident on Route 93 in Andover. As a result of that accident two people died and one was injured. According to reports Fernandez had recently dropped a friend off in Lowell. She ended up on Route 93 northbound. Witnesses have indicated that she might have been driving as fast as ninety miles per hour in the far left lane when she hit a car being driven by a sixty two year old Saugus man. The victim's car rolled over. The driver and one of his passengers were killed and a third man survived with injuries. Fernandez failed Field Sobriety Tests at the scene. She took a Breathalyzer Test and blew a .145, nearly two times the legal limit. Bail was set at fifty thousand dollars cash. The case will likely be prosecuted in the Salem Superior Court even though the district courts have jurisdiction over the charges. Fernandez is being charged with two counts of Motor Vehicle Homicide, Negligent Operation, OUI and assorted Criminal Motor Vehicle Offenses. A conviction for these crimes will likely result in a state prison sentence for Fernandez.

Read Articles:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/06/14/woman_pleads_not_guilty_in_fatal_andover_crash/

http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1814654783/Lawrence-woman-held-on-50K-after-double-fatal-crash

Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Homicide Defense Lawyer

Any Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer will tell you there is no up side to taking a Breathalyzer Test, and in most instances the same sentiment applies to Field Sobriety Tests. Fernandez's problems defending this case will no doubt be compounded by the negative results generated by these tests. Jurors rarely acquit where high readings are involved. Eyewitness testimony about the rate of speed at which she was traveling was sufficiently damaging to her defense particularly in a case where death resulted. An accident reconstruction will likely be performed by the state police, possibly supporting the eyewitness' observations. Driving ninety miles per hour with the death of innocent people resulting, will, in and of itself trigger a criminal prosecution. A suspicion of alcohol ingestion or intoxication magnifies the problem. However, failed tests validate the subjective findings of the police and make defending this case extremely difficult. It is important to remember that in Massachusetts the prosecutor cannot mention to a jury that a defendant refused to take a breathalyzer test. Nor can the district attorney comment on a failure to attempt to perform field sobriety tests. What they can do is take the results of these tests, if taken, and use them to support their prosecution. It is much easier to defend someone who has not taken these tests.

Continue reading "Lawrence Massachusetts Woman Held On High Bail After Being Charged With Two Counts Of Motor Vehicle Homicide, OUI" »

It's no secret that police often write OUI police reports generically, using a laundry list of common OUI symptoms relating to physical appearance, driving, and field sobriety testing. Sometimes these reports are essentially templates in which a select few facts are unique to the defendant. The fictional on-size-fits-all OUI suspect almost always has the same characteristics: "a strong odor of alcohol," "red watery eyes," "slurred speech," an "unsteady gait," etc.

Obviously then, it is not unusual for these reports to contain false information and exaggerations. Because of this, booking videos and in-car cruiser camera videos can be an invaluable source of exculpatory evidence.

Booking and cruiser videos can be extremely useful for a variety of reasons. They can reveal that you were not as drunk as the police said you were or otherwise undercut the officer's version of the facts. They can expose flaws in your arrest experience and the administration of field sobriety tests and breathalyzers.

During the booking process, the booking officer asks a series of background questions. The suspect will be fingerprinted, and a photograph will be taken. As such, booking videos often reveal a respectful and perhaps frightened and confused person with whom a jury could readily sympathize.

As many Massachusetts police departments are now using video cameras and taping these events, it is critical for an attorney to determine whether video evidence is available and carefully review all video evidence. Under the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, exculpatory videos must be automatically produced. Some prosecutors, however, may not realize their duty to produce booking tapes, so it is important to have an attorney who will ensure that these videos are preserved and produced.

Continue reading "Drunk Driving Booking And Cruiser Videos Can Be Useful In Defending OUI Cases" »

In Massachusetts drunk driving cases, it can be useful to have a blood sample that can be compared to breathalyzer results. Recognizing this, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 263 Section 5A gives those suspected of drunk driving the right to an independent physical examination, and the police officer in charge of the station is required to inform OUI/DUI/DWI/drunk driving suspects of this right immediately upon being booked.

The statute places the main responsibility in the hands of the suspect, and the police need not assist anyone in the exercise of this right. The police only have to provide a "reasonable opportunity," which generally just means that they must inform suspects of this right and make a telephone available. Police have to do very little to adequately notify suspects, and sometimes they will just give a suspect an opportunity to read the statute.

This law has two purposes: (1) to provide arrested persons with the opportunity to seek potential exculpatory evidence; and (2) to prevent improper police conduct. Typically, if the police fail to inform a suspect of his/her statutory right to a physical examination, the remedy is dismissal of the complaint or suppression of evidence. However, the statute does not make the remedy explicit, and there are some very troubling loopholes that arise from the prophylactic purpose of the statute. The Appeals Court has determined that even where police fail to inform a defendant of his/her right to a physical, no sanction is required where police did not "attempt" or "desire" to undermine the purpose behind §5A. The Supreme Judicial Court has held that the remedy must only be "adequate" to cure potential or real prejudice resulting from a violation of §5A, considering whether the suspect was so drunk that compliance with the law would have been futile. Therefore, there might be no remedy for a violation of your rights where, for example, the police are otherwise occupied or even careless. A violation of your rights might be justified where someone else simply determines that it wouldn't be worthwhile to comply with the law.

The text of M.G.L. c. 263 §5A is available at:

http://www.malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/partiv/titlei/chapter263/section5a

Continue reading "The Right To An Independent Blood Test For People Accused Of Drunk Driving In Massachusetts Can Be The Difference Between A Conviction And A Not Guilty Verdict" »

Bullcoming v. New Mexico, argued before the United States Supreme Court on Wednesday March 2, 2011, presents a question that may have important implications in Massachusetts OUI/DUI/drunk driving cases: Does a blood-alcohol test admitted without the analyst's actual in-court testimony violate a defendant's Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause rights?

Before delving into the legal issues, it is helpful to recall the facts of this case. Donald Bullcoming, a New Mexico man, was sentenced to two years in prison for an aggravated DWI, (OUI in Massachusetts). After Bullcoming refused a breath alcohol test, a search warrant issued and a blood alcohol test was performed. As the analyst who performed the blood draw was on unpaid leave at the time of trial, the prosecution introduced the blood alcohol test through a lab supervisor who had not observed or administered the test. The trial court ruled that the forensic report was a business record. The New Mexico Court of Appeals upheld that ruling and determined that there was no Confrontation Clause issue because the report was non-testimonial. As the case was pending discretionary review from the New Mexico Supreme Court, the United States Supreme Court issued its Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts decision. Melendez-Diaz clarified that certificates of drug analysis are testimonial and that the prosecution may not introduce them through ex parte out-of-court affidavits without violating a defendant's Sixth Amendment confrontation rights. The New Mexico Supreme Court, applying Melendez-Diaz, held that the blood alcohol test report was testimonial but that there was no Confrontation Clause violation because "the analyst who prepared the report was a mere scrivener who simply transcribed the results..."

In his brief, Bullcoming essentially argues that: 1.) the blood alcohol test is testimonial because, like the certificates in Melendez-Diaz, law enforcement provided seized evidence to the lab to assist in the investigation, a certificate reported a certain chemical composition, and the results were presented in a formal report that was approved for use as evidence in criminal trials; and 2.) the testimony of the particular analyst who prepared the report was necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Confrontation Clause.

The State's position is that: 1.) the report is not testimonial because the information contained therein is machine-produced data, and machines are not witnesses for Sixth Amendment purposes; 2.) the report is distinguishable from the certificates in Melendez-Diaz as it is more akin to "non-adversarial public records...such as birth certificates or judgments of conviction;" 3.) if the analysis was testimonial, the requirements of the Confrontation Clause were satisfied by Bullcoming's opportunity to confront the data and cross-examine a witness who had knowledge of the lab procedure; and 4.) any error in admission of the blood analysis was harmless.

At oral argument, much of the questioning centered on practical considerations and the possible consequences of ruling in favor of Bullcoming. From reading the transcript, it was relatively apparent that Justice Scalia agreed with Bullcoming's position, and in a good deal of his questioning he sought to shore up the argument of Jeffrey Fisher, the attorney for Bullcoming. Scalia asked Gary King, New Mexico Attorney General, if a lab technician prepares these reports "just for fun, not for use in trial?" Scalia also suggested that the prosecution intentionally arranged for the analyst to be on unpaid leave so that he would not have to testify and would not have to be cross-examined, noting "I don't know what the facts are, but boy, it smells bad to me...the possibility of skullduggery, even in machine--machine situations such as this, is a good reason for saying this is testimonial."

To read the oral argument transcript, click here:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/09-10876.pdf

Continue reading "Will A Pending United States Supreme Court Case Change The Requirements For Breathalyzer Admissibility In Massachusetts" »

As a Massachusetts intoxicated driving criminal defense attorney, I am against invasive police searches of people who are merely suspected of crimes. That's why I was disturbed by a Dec. 13 CNN article saying the federal government would like states to make blood tests mandatory for suspected DUI drivers who refuse breath tests. This "no refusal" policy was part of a U.S. Department of Transportation media blitz tied to the holiday season, when drunk driving arrests typically rise. The DoT believes refusing the breathalyzer helps some drivers escape prosecution for DUI, so it is asking states to make resources available to take blood from drivers instead. That effort would require judges on call to provide search warrants as well as personnel or training for officers in collecting blood.

Under a no refusal policy drivers are simply not allowed to decline a chemical test when intoxicated driving is suspected. When someone refuses to take a breathalyzer test, police officers would be able to call a judge who would be specially on call for this purpose. That judge would issue a search warrant, which is legally necessary to draw blood from Americans against their will. The officers would then have to bring the patient to someone trained in drawing blood, or draw the blood themselves if they have the training. In many states, state law specifies that doctors, nurses, paramedics or other medical professionals must actually draw the blood. "No refusal" strategies are currently being used in nine states, though not necessarily in every part of those nine states, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says 30 states have state laws that make the policy possible.

As a Massachusetts OUI criminal defense lawyer, I would like to remind LaHood and CNN's readers that Americans have a Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1966 that forcible blood draws are legal, but it did not address the Fourth Amendment issue -- leaving it open to a potential challenge. That decision also set standards for how police should conduct these forcible blood draws, which means drivers have the ability to challenge blood draws that don't meet standards. In the 1966 ruling, the court said blood should be drawn in "humane and medically acceptable circumstances," which may be why so many state laws list which medical personnel are qualified to draw blood. Police also must have probable cause to believe the driver is intoxicated. Failure to meet those standards can and does allow drivers to challenge the evidence against them, potentially undermining the entire case.

There are also practical objections to a no refusal rule. Many of them stem from the cost of meeting the legal requirements above -- making qualified medical professionals and judges available whenever the police need them to handle a drunk driver. Police officers aren't trained phlebotomists and may not be able to do the blood draw correctly -- nor should they be required to learn a new job. But police agencies may not have the money to keep a nurse on call at all times, and judges may be less than pleased to be woken at 4 a.m. for a warrant.

All of this gives officers an incentive to skip steps, which raises the risk of an unnecessary injury or violation of civil rights. There is at least one report of a man left with an infection by a botched police blood draw. Drivers in other cases have complained that officers refused to listen when they warned that they had deep veins, collapsed veins or health problems making a blood draw a bad idea. And of course, blood samples have all the same chain of custody problems as breath samples, any of which could get the evidence thrown out of court. As a Massachusetts drunk driving criminal defense attorney, I think these are all important arguments against a "no refusal" law. At the very least, Beacon Hill should think carefully about whether it wants citizens literally strapped to a bed and their blood forcibly taken on the mere suspicion of an OUI.

Continue reading "Feds Urge States to Get Warrants for Blood Tests of Drivers Who Refuse Breathalyzers" »

Many of the cases of intoxicated driving that I've written about include good examples of what not to do and what not to say if you're pulled over for drunk driving. For example, telling the officer you've been drinking and popping pills all day is not the best idea. As a Massachusetts intoxicated driving defense attorney, I encourage people who are pulled over for drunk driving to not only keep in mind their rights, but to think strategically about what to say and do in order to ensure that the police report contains as little incriminating evidence against them as possible.

A police officer who pulls someone over probably already thinks that person is guilty -- but they still have to collect enough evidence to legally show guilt. This is why police officers ask drivers questions about whether they have been drinking and how much, and request that they perform field sobriety tests and breathalyzer tests. Officers then record the details that they observe, the answers that drivers supply, and the results of field sobriety tests and breathalyzers in the police report, so that it can serve as evidence and they can refer to it when they testify in court against the drivers.

Many drivers don't realize that even though police routinely ask them to take tests and answer questions, they cannot be forced to comply. You are not legally required to take a breathalyzer test, but there are consequences for refusing. If you're over 21, you can lose your license for 180 days refusing to take a breathalyzer test. If you are later found not guilty or your case is dismissed, you can apply to the RMV for early reinstatement before the 180 days are up.

The same is not true for field sobriety tests, which you are free to refuse with no legal consequences in Massachusetts. Police officers' interpretation of field sobriety tests is subjective, and the tests are difficult for sober people to perform correctly in relaxed settings, never mind for people who are nervous and standing on the side of the road, as I have written recently. Similarly, breathalyzers can also yield highly inaccurate results. Thus, it may better to deprive the police report of the police officer's subjective evaluation of your performance of these faulty tests.

One of the biggest reasons to consider refusing to answer questions and taking the tests is that officers will record evidence that can be held against you, but are unlikely to record any evidence that exonerates you. Let's say you had one drink but you're not drunk. If your breath smells of alcohol, the officer will notice it, put it in the police report, and interpret everything else you do and say through that lens. You may not be able to stop them from noticing the smell of alcohol on your breath, but you can politely decline to answer questions about how many drinks you have had and where you have been, perhaps adding that you cannot answer any questions until you've spoken to a Massachusetts OUI defense attorney. Then, the officer may write in the police report that you refused to answer questions, but he or she will not be able to write that you admitted to drinking before driving.

If you do refuse to answer questions or take the tests, it's extremely important to be polite and respectful about it. Do not challenge police officers' authority or give them a bad "attitude." Your goal is to avoid being charged with drunk driving, and making the officer angry does not help. It could also make the officer portray you more negatively in the police report and subsequent court testimony.

Continue reading "Drivers Pulled Over for OUI Should Use a Strategic Approach to Police Encounters" »

As a Massachusetts intoxicated driving defense attorney, I was concerned about a recent Boston Globe article's discussion of blood alcohol measurement devices to be built in as standard features in new cars. I have written about this in the past, but this article provides new and alarming details.

The device would replace existing ignition interlock devices that are installed in the vehicles of people convicted of certain drunk driving charges. The existing devices require drivers to blow into a tube to have their blood-alcohol content (BAC) analyzed. If their BAC is too high, the car won't start. The new device wouldn't require the driver to do anything -- it would automatically analyze ethanol in the moisture of the driver's breath. Like the existing devices, the new one would prevent the car from starting if it detected a BAC above the legal limit.

QinetiQ North America, a Waltham defense contractor, is developing the device with $10 million in funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (an auto manufacturers group), and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Congress is considering kicking in another $10 million to help defray the cost of installing the device in new cars.

Obviously, drunk driving is dangerous, and encouraging drivers to take responsibility for their actions and avoid driving when they're impaired is entirely desirable. But while it may be well-intentioned, this project raises several different kinds of red flags for me as a as I wrote last month, breathalyzers can register false positives because they detect ethanol that comes from sources other than alcohol. Is it fair to have a device like this prevent a driver with a completely clean driving record from starting his or her car after painting the house or eating bread -- both of which can set off false positives on a breathalyzer? How would the device know whether ethanol came from the breath of a sober driver or a drunk passenger -- would this device have the unintended consequence of discouraging designated drivers? How would drivers of disabled cars get home from wherever the car stranded them, especially in the many areas of Massachusetts and the country where public transportation is not widely available?

In addition, it often takes a while for new technologies to be completely vetted so that they work properly. Innocent drivers affected by a malfunctioning or oversensitive automatic breathalyzer could actually be harmed if, for example, the car is prevented from starting when they have an emergency and need to get to a hospital, or if they need to get to work. Would people avoid buying new cars once these devices became standard equipment, so that they could avoid these devices?

Perhaps fewer OUI charges would be made once these devices were in circulation. But no matter the circumstances, anyone charged with drunk driving should retain a Massachusetts drunk driving criminal defense lawyer to help ensure the best possible outcome for their case. Fines costing thousands of dollars, jail time, loss of license, skyrocketing insurance costs and possible loss of a job could all be consequences of a drunk driving conviction in Massachusetts.

Continue reading "Technology Could Put a Breathalyzer in Every Vehicle, Regardless of OUI History" »

The next time you go out to dinner, be sure to drive carefully if you've eaten any bread products. You wouldn't want to be stopped by the police with bread on your breath, since studies have shown that breathalyzer tests can't tell the difference between the amount of alcohol in your blood and the ethyl alcohol that stays on your breath after you eat bread, yeast, or similar foods. Without drinking any alcoholic beverages at all, people who have eaten bread have gotten breathalyzer blood alcohol concentration readings as high as 0.05% -- more than halfway to the legal limit at which you're considered legally intoxicated. As a Massachusetts OUI defense lawyer, I think it's important for people to know that the tests used to determine whether a driver is intoxicated are not foolproof. You can often -- and should -- fight OUI charges based on these faulty tests.

Nobody wants to see more drunk drivers on the road. But evidence shows that the breathalyzer test, on which law enforcement relies heavily, is not a good basis for determining who is driving drunk. I've written lately about the problems with field sobriety tests -- basically, that they rely on faulty science that's decades old. Blood-alcohol concentration tests also have problems because when they look for ethyl alcohol, which is the kind of alcohol people drink, they also can find similar substances that are not intoxicating, but still cause a false positive.

According to sociology professor David Hanson, the test doesn't just pick up on food molecules, either -- people who have been painting a wall can test as intoxicated without ever drinking any alcohol. Breathalyzer results can also show false readings because of "alcohol, blood or vomit in the subject's mouth, electrical interference from cell phones and police radios, tobacco smoke, dirt, and moisture." Tests of the subject's actual blood, not their breath, produced accurate results in these investigations -- but the breathalyzer could be amazingly inaccurate.

Field sobriety tests and breathalyzers make up two out of three of the usual sources of evidence in drunk driving cases -- police officers' personal observations being the third. Scientific evidence and common sense makes it clear that none of these are foolproof or even necessarily accurate -- meaning that there's a real problem with the way police determine which drivers are drunk. This makes it easier for me, as a Massachusetts intoxicated driving defense attorney, to get evidence against my clients thrown out and to achieve dismissals or not-guilty verdicts. But it's unfair to my clients to be arrested and charged in the first place if it's done on the basis of faulty evidence and unscientific tests. Some states, like South Dakota, recognize that breathalyzer tests are inaccurate and don't allow them to be used as evidence; they allow only blood tests because they can rely on them to be accurate. But in Massachusetts and many other states, breath tests are used as evidence at trial, and there are even penalties for drivers who refuse to submit to them. Refusing the breathalyzer, even if you're not intoxicated, results in suspension of your driver's license for 180 days if you're over 21. You can appeal that suspension, but it is an extra burden that may be inappropriate, given that the test is far from reliable.

Continue reading "Home Improvement Projects and Bread Can Trigger False Positives on Breathalyzer" »

Last month, I wrote about the use of ignition interlock devices in Massachusetts drunk driving cases. Under Melanie's Law, courts may order repeat OUI offenders to install these mobile breathalyzers in their vehicles, at their own expense. The devices were originally hailed as an effective way to stop drunk driving, but as I wrote in January, citizens and Massachusetts OUI defense attorneys have raised significant questions about their effectiveness, reliability and safety.

Now, a report from the Record of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada suggests that ignition interlock devices may someday be outmoded by a new technology. The Feb. 12 article says Sober Steering Sensors Canada Inc. is developing a type of chemical sensor that can detect what it calls the gas byproducts of alcohol though a person's skin. The company is developing a steering wheel that incorporates the sensors. As with IIDs, the system would not allow the vehicle to start if it detects a high BAC. The Record said the company is already testing the technology in "fleet" vehicles, including buses and large trucks. Both MADD and the auto insurance industry have expressed interest, and the company's founder was slated to talk to Florida's state legislature about the technology Feb. 15.

The article said Sober Steering's product may improve on IIDs for several reasons. IIDs require a "clean" breath test before they allow the vehicle to start. Drivers can get around this by having another person take the test. For this reason, IIDs also require a "rolling retest," which means retaking the breath test while the vehicle is in motion. Critics believe this is not safe, especially since the car can shut down in traffic if the driver can't find a safe place to pull over and take the test. The Sober Steering technology can take rolling retests without the driver having to do anything but keep his or her hands on the wheel. Sober Steering claims its technology can tell the difference between alcohol consumption and alcohol from hand sanitizer, mouthwash or other products, a common criticism of breathalyzers. And the cost of installing it is a sixth to a tenth of the cost of an IID, the article said.

As a Massachusetts drunk driving criminal defense lawyer, I agree that this could solve some of the drawbacks of IIDs, though not all of them. (Drivers could still illegally borrow someone else's car, for example.) But I believe states and provinces should take a hard look at the technology before rushing to adopt it. For example, how finely tuned is the technology? Can it tell when a driver is wearing gloves? Can it consistently distinguish between a legal BAC of 0.07 and an illegal 0.08? Serious flaws, like the well-documented problems with breathalyzers, could allow defendants to fight their cases. Another concern has to do with the constitutional right of defendants to face their accusers. In cases of drunk driving, the test device is generally considered the "accuser," which has led to court cases, successful in some states, demanding that the source code behind breathalyzer machines be publicly released. If Sober Steering's technology will be used in the United States, the company should release its technology to allow defendants to build the best possible defenses.

The Law Offices of Stephen Neyman represents clients throughout eastern Massachusetts who are charged with operating under the influence and related crimes. If you're facing charges, don't hesitate to contact us for help. For a free phone consultation, please call (617) 263-6800 or send a message through the Web site.

State Senator Anthony Galluccio is headed to jail, the Boston Herald reported Jan. 4. Galluccio, a Democrat elected to represent Cambridge will serve a year in jail in connection with an Oct. 4 hit-and-run accident he admits to causing. That crash caused only minor injuries to a father and teenaged son, but Galluccio left the scene. He did not turn himself in until the next day, making it impossible to test him for alcohol, but he has two past OUIs (one pardoned) and a past accident. When Galluccio was sentenced for the hit-and-run, Judge Matthew Nestor gave him six months of home confinement with exceptions for Senate votes and church, on the condition that he not drink and submit to random alcohol testing. His driver's license was also revoked for five years.

That sentence was handed down Dec. 18. On Dec. 21, a probation department employee came to install an alcohol-testing device called a Sobrietor in Galluccio's home. Right after installation, the device detected alcohol on Galluccio's breath. The senator said he hadn't had any alcohol and suggested that sorbitol, an artificial sweeter in toothpaste, may have been the culprit. Despite testimony from an expert witness, Nestor said he believed Galluccio had been drinking. He revoked Galluccio's probation and sent him to jail for a year. Senate President Therese Murray issued a statement suggesting that Galluccio will lose his job if he does not resign.

Read article: Embattled Galluccio gets 1 year in jail

Galluccio's suggestion that toothpaste may have set off the Sobrietor is attracting ridicule in some circles. The Boston Herald even went so far as to test the theory, using a home breathalyzer kit. But Massachusetts OUI criminal defense lawyers already know that toothpaste, mouthwash and other alcohol-containing substances can give a false positive on a breathalyzer test, even though the person may in fact be sober. As the Herald's test shows, taking a reading directly after brushing your teeth, sipping a beer, belching or more can produce high readings, which fall off dramatically in a few minutes. This is because of residual alcohol in the mouth. Breathalyzers are supposed to work by testing the alcohol in the air expelled from the person's lungs, then using an equation to calculate BAC. Using the same equation for the much higher amount of mouth alcohol can produce a very high but temporary reading.

This is why law enforcement officers are supposed to observe the driver for 15 minutes before administering a breathalyzer -- to ensure that enough time has passed since the last drink to avoid a false positive. Failure to do this, or to follow several other procedures, can make the evidence tainted or suspect. When this is the case, an experienced Massachusetts drunk driving defense attorney will ask the judge to leave that evidence out of the case entirely. In effect, this substantially weakens the prosecution's case, because without a BAC reading, it is much more difficult to prove that the defendant operated a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Continue reading "Galluccio Sentenced to One Year in Jail for Failing Home Confinement Alcohol Test" »

A man from Taunton was arrested in that town for driving drunk and flying into a rage after his arrest, the Taunton Gazette reported Oct. 7. The article does not specify the circumstances behind the DUI charge against Raymond Butler, 45. But after his arrest and placement in the back of a police car, the article says, the arresting officer said Butler began screaming, banging his head against the window. The officer also said Butler used profanity and crude sexual references, and threatened to claim that the officer assaulted him.

He later complained that his pacemaker was bothering him, so police called an ambulance. When EMTs arrived, Butler allegedly screamed at them and flailed so much that he struck one of them. When he arrived at the hospital, he allegedly screamed vulgarities at hospital staff, threatened a nurse and pulled an IV out of his arm. He was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol; having an open container in his vehicle; threatening to commit a crime; disturbing the peace; assault and battery on ambulance personnel; and disorderly conduct.

Read article: Taunton man flies into rage after OUI arrest

The evidence of Butler's disruptive behavior could make this case difficult for a Massachusetts DUI defense attorney, but not necessarily because he was guilty of driving while intoxicated. It is not clear from the article whether the police have solid evidence against Butler, and what that evidence might be. (If the description in the article is accurate, Butler may have refused the breathalyzer test, making it more difficult to prove intoxication.) But even a strong defense may not impress a jury when evidence suggests the defendant was hostile. Even though the charges stemming from that behavior are separate from the DUI charge, juries may incorrectly believe they support the idea that the defendant was driving drunk. Depending on the other evidence in the case, an experienced Massachusetts OUI defense lawyer may consider suggesting a guilty plea in exchange for a 24D sentence (alternative disposition) that lowers the penalties considerably.

Continue reading "Taunton Massachusetts Driver Charged With Assaulting Emergency Workers in OUI Arrest" »

A driver pulled over in Natick, Massachusetts was driving while intoxicated and going more than twice the speed limit, MetroWest Daily News reported Oct. 6. Jason Michael Harvey, 29, was stopped for excessive speed around 2 a.m. on Route 9. The speed limit in the area is 45 mph; an officer using speed radar clocked Harvey at 91 mph. Harvey, of Framingham, admitted that he had been drinking alcohol, and an officer found an open bottle of vodka in his large, 12- to 15-passenger van. A Breathalyzer test at the scene found Harvey had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.21, more than twice the 0.08 legal limit in Massachusetts. Harvey was charged with OUI, driving to endanger, driving with an open container of alcohol, driving on a suspended license, speeding and failure to wear a seat belt. He pleaded not guilty at an Oct. 5 arraignment.

Read article: Framingham man charged with driving twice the speed limit in Natick

As a Massachusetts DUI defense attorney, I frequently hear from clients in situations like Harvey's who feel that their cases are hopeless. If the police have a BAC reading, the logic goes, there must be no way they can fight the charge. While it's true that failing a breathalyzer test can be strong evidence in a drunk driving case, failing a breathalyzer is not proof that the accused was truly operating under the influence of liquor. As I explain on my Web site's breathalyzer page, test results may be inadmissible at trial if the police did not follow certain procedures designed to keep the evidence from being tainted. In fact, the law says police must watch the accused for fifteen minutes before administering a breathalyzer, because certain digestive problems and eating or drinking certain things can throw off the test results.

Among the foods and drinks that can throw off test results is alcohol itself. Breathalyzers estimate BAC by calculating the amount of alcohol on a person's breath. When the person being tested has drunk some alcohol moments before, he or she likely still has alcohol in the mouth -- which can give off fumes. Those fumes can disrupt the breathalyzer reading, giving it a falsely high test result. The report notes that Harvey had an open bottle of vodka in his van, suggesting that he may have been drinking right before he was pulled over. If that's the case, and the officer did not wait 15 minutes to administer the test, the breathalyzer results may be inadmissible in court -- weakening the DUI case considerably. This doesn't affect the other charges in Harvey's case, of course, but an experienced Massachusetts drunk driving defense lawyer can substantially reduce the penalties he faces with defenses like these.

Continue reading "Police Arrest Framingham Massachusetts Man on Speeding and Drunk Driving Charges" »