DataMaster DMT: Legal and Foundational Issues Kenneth Stecker and perry Curtis August 2013

DATAMASTER DMT WHY DO WE NEED A NEW EVIDENTIAL BREATH TESTER? THE CURRENT BAC DATAMASTER IS EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED

NEW FEATURES OF DMT PERFORMS AUTO ACCURACY TEST KEEPS THE LAST ACCURACY TEST AND LAST SUBJECT TEST IN MEMORY USES COMPUTR PRINTER PRINTS START OF OBSERVATION TIME ON TEST RESULTS DOES NOT REQUIRE OPERATOR TO SIGN TEST PRINT OUT

ACCURACY TEST DMT HAS DRY GAS CANISTER ATTACHED MONDAY MORNING AT 10:00 AM THE DMT WILL PERFORM A ACCURACY TEST OPERATOR WILL ONLY BE REQUIRED TO RECORD TEST ON OD-33 OPERATOR CAN PERFORM A ACCURACY TEST

DataMaster DMT Logs Unit must be tested each calendar week There can be up to 13 days between two tests, Results must be Within 5% of the Target Value (Target Value Determined by the Barometer) Custodian of logs needed for trial, unless defense attorney stipulates to logs Even if a stipulation, all officers subject to cross examination of Datamaster logs

STANDARD OUT OF RANGE

OUT OF SERVICE WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THE AUTO ACCURACY TEST THE INSTRUMENT WILL TAKE ITSELF OUT OF SERVICE

120 Day Inspection Performed by the Service Representative employed by NPAS and approved by the MSP Alcohol Unit This is required per the Administrative Rules

ALCOHOL CERTIFICATES WET BATH AND DRY GAS CERTIFICATES BOTH TYPES OF ALCOHOL HAVE National Institute of Standards Traceability

MSP Admin Rule re: Observation

SUBJECT TEST

ERROR MESSAGES OBSERVATION START TIME LESS THAN 15 MINUTES

SAMPLE INDICATOR

REMOVE MOUTHPIECE

REFUSAL

INVALID SAMPLE

INVALID MESSAGE

INTERFERRENCE DETECTED

INTERFERRENCE MESSAGE

RFI

SAMPLE AGREEMENT

-A second sample shall be requested, but only one sample is required. -The second sample must comply with the table above. If Not, seek 3 rd sample. If 3 rd still out of variance, seek a blood sample. -Datamaster automatically eliminates the 3 rd decimal point, which benefits the defendant.

MSP Admin Rule R Evidential v. Preliminary Breath Alcohol - - Equipment Accuracy - -Weekly verifications by Class II - IV Day certifications by mfg rep. - - Techniques & Procedures - -Observation - -Subsequent tests - -Allowable variations

MSP Administrative Rule Techniques and Procedures Smoked, Regurgitated, or Placed Anything in Mouth for 15 minutes Preliminary Breath Test

Why PBTs are important Allows arrest, without any additional PC, for drunk driving. MCL a2a “To assist the court in determining a challenge to the validity of the arrest” MCL a2bi “As evidence of the defendant’s breath alcohol content, if offered by the prosecution to rebut testimony of a prosecution witness that the defendant’s BAC was lower at the time of the charged offense than when a chemical test was administered.” MCL biii

Refusal = Search Warrant MCL d If a person refuses the request of a peace officer to submit to a chemical test offered pursuant to section 625a(6), a test shall not be given without a court order, but the officer may seek to obtain the court order.

Inspect MSP Tri-tech kit to ensure it hasn’t expired

Foundation for Blood Results People v. Cords, Mich Ct Appeals 1975 Blood timely taken From a particular person Nurse, or blood tech, designated by MD Sterile instruments used Sample properly preserved Sample properly labeled Proper procedures for shipping to MSP lab

Officer should address MSP Tri-tech kit, expiration date, nurse’s name, & delegating physician in narrative report

Nurse/ER Tech’s name in Report Supervising doctor’s name in Report Expiration date of Tri-Tech kit in Rpt Kit opened in front of Defendant Non-alcoholic swab used Time of blood draw (from left arm) Kit sealed in presence of Defendant

ACCURATE Chemical Test Instruments PBT Instrument State-approved instrument Verified for accuracy and reliability once per month –Conducted by qualified operator –Tested with certified solution; Logs of monthly testing maintained Datamaster Instrument State-approved instrument Verified for accuracy/reliab. once per calendar week –Conducted by qualified operator –Tested with certified solution; Inspected, verified, and certified for accuracy once every 120 days by qualified operator or company rep. Logs of weekly testing maintained

QUESTIONS