SFPD Breathalyzer Mistake Puts Hundreds of DUI Convictions In Doubt

Mr. Shotgun writes "According to CBS, 'Hundreds, or even thousands, of drunk driving convictions could be overturned because the San Francisco Police Department has not tested its breathalyzers, officials said Monday. For at least six years, the police officers in charge of testing the 20 breathalyzers used by the Police Department did not carry out any tests on the equipment. Officers instead filled the test forms with numbers that matched the control sample, said Public Defender Jeff Adachi, throwing countless DUI convictions into doubt.' Apparently this has happened before."

Comments

Shocked, shocked I tell you

[gelfling]

That a police department would use questionable tools and tactics to secure large numbers of convictions that also result in large fines.

Re:I take exception to the term "mistake"

[Ogive17]

Are you committing fraud by reading/posting on /. from work?

seeee, izzzz told youuu i waz sob er

[elrous0]

take THAT offfficeer i-know-everrything

Re:I take exception to the term "mistake"

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Are you committing fraud by reading/posting on /. from work?

That's like asking if a cop is committing fraud by eating a donut.

Re:I take exception to the term "mistake"

[Anonymous Coward]

Mmmmmm... fraud donut.

Re:Request a blood test

[s2jcpete]

Your username and your advice seem to be at odds

Re:Request a blood test

[stephanruby]

I'll politely hold my hands out for them to put the cuffs on me, and quietly go with them...and call my atty when I get to the police station.

"No, your honor. I didn't want to arrest him. I was just going to ask him for directions. That's when the suspect insisted I put cuffs on him, said he wasn't going to say another word, and then made his way into the back seat of my police car. "

Re:Having worked with officers in that area before

[arth1]

The center of New Mexico is actually over 5000 miles from the center of Jersey.
And no, no judge in New Mexico has the right to suspend a license issued in Jersey. It's doubtful that even a judge in London would have the rights to do that. I'm pretty sure any request would have to be passed through the Bailiff of Jersey's office.

tl;dr: New Jersey is not Jersey any more than New York is York.

Re:Having worked with officers in that area before

[Calydor]

"Run, Forrest, run!"