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
Trulieve seeks $143M federal refund for 280E taxes
Would enforcing payment and accepting money from a federally illegal business cause you to be caught up in RICO, CCE and conspiracy charges that would put you away for decades? For you yes - For the government a big NO.Multistate marijuana company Trulieve Cannabis...
Feds Clarify Doctor Prescribed Medical Cannabis Is No Excuse
The revised federal workplace drug testing guidelines, issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are intended to provide clarity. These guidelines emphasize that individuals who use...
Stop and Frisk – Terry v. Ohio
Terry v. Ohio (1968)Background On October 31, 1963 while conducting his regular patrol in downtown Cleveland, seasoned Cleveland Police detective Martin McFadden, who brought 39 years of law enforcement experience to the job, observed three men behaving suspiciously...
Can I have open alcohol in a trailer that is being pulled on the road?
Question: Can I have open alcohol in a trailer or camper that is being pulled on the road? Answer: In most instances transporting or possession of open intoxicants in a vehicle is not permitted. MCL 257.624a states in part, "a person who is an operator or occupant...
How Much Does it Cost for an Expungement in Michigan?
How much is your record costing you not to have it expunged is the question you should ask yourself. When you have been convicted of a crime in Michigan, you are likely aware of the negative impact it can have on your life, even after you have knelt in submission,...
Pending Charges?
Pending Charges. Don't wait. Get ahead of their game. If you have been arrested but not charged yet. Don't wait while they build evidence and take your statements to use against you! They may just be building a case against you and letting you get more comfortable...
Conspiracy is a Crime
In Michigan, conspiracy is a crime that is defined as "the agreement between two or more persons to commit any crime." The crime of conspiracy could be considered complete even if the actual crime is never committed. Conspiracy is a felony in Michigan, and the...
US Cannabis Industry-Just Another Sinking Ship?
Is the cannabis industry just another sinking ship in the US? This story was picked up out in the cannabis news world. Read it for yourself. Have the end times have begun for US weed companies as the first South American imports are approved by the DEA. The US Federal...
Charged with DUI from Cannabis and this Ends up on the Report
So you got pulled over and charged with DUI from Cannabis use and this ends up on the report 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-COOH-THC or THC-COOH) as part of the test results. What is it?? Here's what they say...
The Marijuana Industry Paid an Extra $1.8 Billion in Federal Taxes Because of the 280E Tax Code
News from the internet Why legalize cannabis when 280E is the gift that keeps on giving to the Federal government? Whitney Economics, a cannabis research firm, recently conducted a comprehensive analysis of the impact of federal taxes on the cannabis industry. The...