Ohio May Standardize Breathalyzer Testing
Despite the continuing controversy and litigation surrounding the Intoxilyzer 8000, Ohio officials are considering purchasing 700 units in an effort to standardize breath test equipment and procedures across the state. The Ohio Departments of Public Safety and Health say the Intoxilyzer 8000 has been tested under a variety of temperature and climate conditions and passed those tests, but the state controlling board is hesitant in the wake of litigation around the country.
CMI, Inc., the company that manufactures the Intoxilyzer 8000 (and the Intoxilyzer 5000 before it) and has resisted all requests for the machine’s source code, says DUI defense attorneys are mounting an orchestrated national effort to shut down DUI cases which rely on the Intoxilyzer. But the company seems to be in a bit of a bind: If defense attorneys are raising legitimate concerns about the breath test, that’s good reason for Ohio officials to hold off on that mass purchase…but if defense attorneys across the country are in fact “orchestrating a national effort”, isn’t that a good reason to steer clear as well?
