Flaws in Breath, Blood and Urine DUI Tests

Breath Test Flaws

The government claims that the breath test machine is “scientific,” but the truth is that breath testing is very unreliable and inaccurate. There are machine based flaws, such as...

lack of concurrent calibration checks;
no warranty;
lack of computerized online breath archives;
there is an inherent margin of error with these machines;
and radio frequency interference.

Also, there are operator errors that can cause unreliable and inaccurate results such as...

inadequate mouth alcohol deprivation-which accounts
for residual mouth alcohol;
improper breath testing instructions making the suspect blow excessively long (“the more you blow the higher you go”);
forced agreement where the breath test operator interrupts the subjects breathing pattern forcing agreement of the two samples.
Moreover, the subject taking the breath test may have physiological issues that can cause the
machine to render an unreliable and inaccurate result, such as...
high body temperature;
GERD/Acid Reflux;
hematocrit issues;
abnormal lung physiology;
improper breathing patterns;
or a partition ratio that is not 2100:1.

The machine is programmed to assume that for every one part of alcohol in a subject’s breath, there are 2100 parts in the blood. So the machine does a mathematical calculation to convert breath alcohol concentration to blood-alcohol concentration. However, human beings do not have a constant partition ratio of 2100:1 and partition ratios vary within the human body from 900:1 to about 3400:1.

Urine (Po Po Pee Pee) Test Flaws

There are flaws related to urine testing; AKA, Po Po Pee Pee testing, that lead to inaccurate, and unreliable results. For example, when testing for alcohol:

the subject should be required to void (empty) his bladder and wait before giving a reliable urine sample. In my experience, this never takes place. Assuming the Po Po requires the suspect to empty his bladder, an improper time lapse before taking the second urine sample is problematic.

Blood Test Flaws

The same flaws apply in blood testing.

Blood samples can be contaminated from bacteria.
The phlebotomist taking blood may wipe the skin with an alcohol swab rather than with iodine.
Lack of preservatives and lack of refrigeration can cause Candida albicans that contaminate the sample.
The sample can be subject to inaccurate analysis and interpretation of the gas chromatogram.

Any of the above factors can lead to an inaccurate result causing your test to produce an inaccurate and falsely high blood alcohol content measurement. As such, you, the suspect player, must choose to refuse.

Expert Witness?

Typically, in challenging the Government’s chemical test, you would need an expert witness to properly attack the accuracy, reliability and validity of the result. This is very expensive. Furthermore, even if it’s not over the illegal limit, the government still can prosecute you.

Chemical Test Refusal

With respect to refusing, I want to be clear in informing you that there are consequences for refusing a chemical test. A refusal of a chemical test is evidence that can be used against you at trial. However, a refusal on its own is unlikely to “bust” your hand and result in a conviction. Furthermore, compared to the evidentiary consequence of a chemical test over the limit, a refusal can be explained away as following the advice of an attorney, and doubting the reliability of the testing, which as discussed above is perfectly reasonable.

However, you must be aware that a refusal carries its own consequences. In both Ohio and Kentucky, the motorists must submit to a chemical test chosen by the law enforcement officer or suffer administrative sanctions.

In Ohio, those administrative sanctions include an Administrative License Suspension (ALS), with or without privileges, and payment of license reinstatement fees. Note that the ALS also applies for a test at or over the illegal limit. Therefore, the only possibility to avoid this sanction is to submit to the test and test under the illegal limit. Yet even such a test is likely to be offered as evidence against you unless the test shows no alcohol or drugs. See the charts in Appendix A and B for specific consequences of submitting or refusing a test.

Particularly for a first-time offender, or even a second time offender, it is worth refusing to preserve not getting an OVI, particularly for an offender who blows at or above the illegal limit of .08. In Ohio, there’s also, per se statutory drug levels as well. They are exceptionally low.

In Kentucky, the administrative sanctions include a pre-trial suspension for a first-time offender, whereby the offender may or may not obtain privileges with an ignition interlock device. A driver with a prior conviction within ten years will receive a pre-trial suspension whether they test or not. However, the pre-trial suspension will be credited against the suspension imposed upon any conviction.

With respect to a repeat offender, Ohio law adds an additional consideration. Within the Ohio OVI statute, 4511.19, the legislature has carved out a separate offense for multiple offenders within a 20 year period. Under this rule, a suspect arrested for OVI who has a prior DUI/OVI or a substantially similar offense within the last 20 years from the date of arrest will be subject to an additional charge called “Refusing to Submit to a Chemical Test.” Essentially, if the state adds a charge of refusing to submit to a chemical test, the mandatory minimal jail time increases and the “hard time” suspension without limited driving privileges is longer. See the charts in Appendix A and B for specific consequences of submitting or refusing a test.

However, even with respect to the refusal charge, the government must prove both elements of “operation” and “under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs of abuse.” If the government cannot prove both of these elements, the suspect will be found not guilty of both offenses. One caveat of the additional refusal charge is that the state can inform the jury of the prior DUI/OVI offense. Nevertheless, in my experience the consequence of this evidence is much less damaging than a chemical test over the legal limit.

Despite the escalated mandatory minimum sentencing penalites in Ohio for the charge of refusing to submit to a chemical test, I still believe it is in the suspect’s best interest to choose to refuse. The suspect who refuses still has a better chance to prevail at trial because the state will not have chemical test evidence. Evidence is the name of the game.The less evidence that the state has against the suspect, the better chance that the suspect prevails at trial.

Furthermore, a suspect who tests at 0.17 BAC or higher, will also receive the escalated mandatory minimum penalty. Because of chemical testing flaws, as indicated in this book, I would not advise taking a chemical test.

Because of this, I still believe it is in the suspect’s best interest to choose to refuse even though there may be license sanctions. Better to endure a license sanction rather than a conviction of DUI/OVI, especially for a multiple offender and with the same theory that if there is no evidence, it is harder to obtain a conviction. Furthermore, although beyond the scope of this book, the pre-trial license suspension can be appealed and, with the exception of any “hard time” suspension (in Ohio), can frequently be served with privileges for work, school, etc. or ignition interlock.

The bottom line is that, while there is a consequence for refusing, it is far less than the consequence of conviction.

Are you or someone you know facing DUI / OVI charges?

If you are facing DUI charges, you need to speak with an experienced DUI attorney as soon as possible. The Law Offices of Steven R. Adams is recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, and is one of U.S. News' Best Law Firms. Please contact us online or call our Cincinnati office directly at 513-929-9333 to schedule your free consultation.