An Independent Review of the Intoxilyzer 9000
Part 1 – Residual mouth alcohol detection
Counterpoint Volume 2; Issue 2 – Article 3 (August 2017)
An article in the Core Skills III-2 Module
Jan Semenoff, BA, EMA
Forensic Criminalist
The opportunity to conduct an independent analysis and performance review of a new breath alcohol testing device is rare, particularly the higher-end, evidentiary-level units.
Access to these technologies is stringently controlled by both their manufacturers and the police and government agencies that control them.
Additionally, state agencies are often reluctant to publish the results of their official assessments and analysis of the devices.
When given the opportunity to perform such a review on a new Intoxilyzer 9000, I designed a series of experiments to quickly analyze the overall performance of the device.
I attended the device’s location with colleague Tom Workman (1948 – 2019) to determine its suitability and reliability in a number of key areas, including:
- Overall design and ease of use
- Accuracy in determining in vitro [2] BrAC levels using a simulator
- The ability of the device to determine the presence of Fresh Mouth Alcohol using a Residual
- Alcohol Detection System (RADS) or the so-called “slope detector”.
- Reliability in reporting BrAC [3] readings that are highly specific to ethanol
- The effect of Radio Frequency Interference on the device [4]
This article will provide a general overview of the operational characteristics of the Intoxilyzer 9000. We will additionally look at the apparent accuracy of the device using simulator readings, and examine the ability of the device to “flag” false positive reading caused by fresh mouth alcohol contamination.
Read the rest of Part One here
Parts two and three are in the drop down menu at the site but not easy to notice. The links are below if you have trouble.
Part Two and Part Three will examine the unit’s specificity towards ethanol detection and its ability to identify the presence of an interferent chemical, and the capacity of the device to detect Radio Frequency Interference.
Related Articles
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
More Posts
Oregon governor signs a bill recriminalizing drug possession
Oregon governor signs a bill recriminalizing drug possession into lawOn April 1, 2024, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bill 4002 into law, effectively recriminalizing the possession of small amounts of certain controlled substances. This legislation marks a...
John Sinclair, the inspiration for Ann Arbor’s Hash Bash, dead at 82
John Sinclair, the poet whose imprisonment for marijuana inspired the start of Ann Arbor’s long-running annual Hash Bash in the 1970s, has died. He was 82.Sinclair's passing occurred on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at a Detroit hospital, merely four days prior to his...
Disciplining Student’s Speech Violates First Amendment
You go girl!!!A public high school was found to have violated the First Amendment when it suspended a student from her cheerleading team for using profane speech off campus. Mahanoy Area Sch Dist v BL, No 20-255, ___ US ___ (June 23, 2021). The U.S. Supreme Court has...
Marijuana reform advocates demand apology from Kamala Harris
So SorryMarijuana reform advocates demand an apology from Kamala Harris for locking up pot smokers and slam her 'political hypocrisy' for now saying no one should 'go to jail for smoking weed!'Marijuana reform advocates are urging Vice President Kamala Harris to issue...
Federal Agency Smack Down on a Michigan Credit Union’s Cannabis Banking
Apple to ApplesAn independent federal agency has recently cited a Michigan credit union for non-compliance with regulations regarding banking services for the marijuana industry. Consequently, the financial institution has been directed to halt the opening of new...
Cannabis cash transactions aren’t suspicious says IRS
Following The MoneyLarge cash transactions by marijuana businesses should not be automatically flagged as suspicious, as per the latest IRS guidance. The tax agency's guidance aims to provide clarity on the federal Bank Secrecy Act, which mandates businesses,...
The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 1)
The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 1 of 2)Roll-Out The Michigan State Police (MSP) initiated Intoxilyzer 9000 (Intoxilyzer) training for police officers statewide, commencing in 2023. In order to participate, officers were required to complete both preliminary breath test...
The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 2)
The Intoxilyzer 9000 (part 2 of 2)Using it The Intoxilyzer is user-friendly and equipped with a built-in feature to alert officers of any potential issues. As a precautionary measure, officers are specifically advised to switch off their portable radios prior to...
Our Kids are Dying of Drug Overdoses
THE KIDS AREN’T ALRIGHT, THEY’RE DYING OF DRUG OVERDOSESFrom May 2022 to May 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an alarming 37 percent increase in American lives lost due to overdoses, totaling over 112,000 fatalities. This staggering surge...
How DUI Charges Impact Your Child’s Future
In Michigan driving is considered a privilege. with this privilege comes immense responsibility, especially when it comes to driving under the influence (DUI) as well as other responsibilities. The consequences of youth DUI extend far beyond the immediate legal...
