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, EMAForensic CriminalistThe opportunity to conduct an...
An Independent Review of the Intoxilyzer 9000
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
An Independent Review of the Intoxilyzer 9000
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...
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...
More Posts
Understanding Domestic Violence Laws in Michigan
Understanding Domestic Violence Laws in MichiganDomestic violence is a serious issue that can affect anyone, regardless of age, income, or background. If you are experiencing domestic violence in Michigan, it's important to know your rights and the laws that protect...
Macomb Prosecutor issues first charges under new safe storage law
Understanding Domestic Violence Laws in MichiganMacomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido has filed the first charges under Michigan's new safe storage law following a critical accident in Warren. An 8-year-old boy allegedly accessed an unsecured firearm and shot himself...
Marijuana grow busted as feds investigate trend in more states
The DEA is investigating international criminal organizations that are operating illegal marijuana grows in about 20 states, including Maine.The significant electricity usage in a residence, its windows concealed with cardboard, and the scent of marijuana caught the...
A visit with a kick
POW - Right in the Kisser. Businesses watch out for the lawA Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain was hit with a lawsuit by the Biden administration at the same time the president stopped by one of their locations on the campaign trail. Sheetz is being accused...
Woman tried to board flight with 56 pounds of marijuana
Woman allowed airport police to check her luggage, had name tag on bags, according to reportsBefore a 21-year-old Memphis woman could board an United Airlines flight, Memphis International Airport Police found 56 pounds of marijuana in her luggage, according to...
You’re too stupid to store a gun properly
The Biden administration once again defends a ban in federal court, arguing that people who use marijuana should be prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. They claim that this restriction is supported by historical precedent and that individuals who...
Illegal Firearms in Michigan
Illegal Gun Ownership in Michigan: Insights and StatisticsThe issue of illegal gun ownership in Michigan is a complex one, influenced by various factors ranging from criminal activity to loopholes in regulatory measures. Understanding who owns illegal guns is crucial...
Restoring Second Amendment Rights in Michigan
Restoring Your Gun RightsAs of 4/17/24...There is still a second amendment The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution grants citizens the right to bear arms, a fundamental aspect of American freedoms. However, in some cases, just like every other right...
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...