« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector  (Read 1611 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Chris

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1476
  • Reputation: +522/-16
Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« on: May 17, 2009, 03:04:24 AM »
Found this while poking around the internets...
Quote
Draeger, the manufacturer maintained that the system was perfect, and that revealing the source code would be damaging to its business. They were right about the second part, of course, because it turned out that the code was terrible.

Basically, the system was designed to return some sort of result regardless.

This is important. As we become more and more dependent on software for evidentiary and other legal applications, we need to be able to carefully examine that software for accuracy, reliability, etc. Every government contract for breath alcohol detectors needs to include the requirement for public source code. "You can't look at our code because we don't want you to" simply isn't good enough.

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/05/software_proble.html

Case details at the link.
Logged
This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

Offline JohnnyReb

  • In Memoriam
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 32063
  • Reputation: +1998/-134
Re: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2009, 06:27:59 AM »
Another DUmmie has been caught DUI....and his dead uncles vote wasn't counted.
Logged
“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of ‘liberalism’, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.” - Norman Thomas, U.S. Socialist Party presidential candidate 1940, 1944 and 1948

"America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within."  Stalin

Offline NHSparky

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24431
  • Reputation: +1280/-617
  • Where are you going? I was gonna make espresso!
Re: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2009, 06:49:17 AM »
Well, given the fact that people can (and have) been charged with below .08, and in some cases, ZERO BAC, on one hand, I'm not sure this is a huge issue compared to "zero tolerance" policies in place around the country.

LINK

BUT, OTOH, if law enforcement can just arbitrarily say, "Screw it, you were close enough for my work," then we need to work on THAT aspect first, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't also work on making sure these breathalyzers are made as accurate as possible.  We expect the state to present proof beyond a reasonable doubt when it brings a case.  This, IMHO, bring SIGNIFICANT doubt as to the validity of those at or near .08 BAC.  If you're .15, however, ain't nothing gonna save your ass.

Bottom line, it doesn't matter what our BAC is--if the cops want you in, you're going.  Sad, really.
Logged
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian.”  -Henry Ford

Offline AllosaursRus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11672
  • Reputation: +424/-293
  • Skip Tracing by Contract Only!
Re: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2009, 04:18:47 PM »
Quote
Bottom line, it doesn't matter what our BAC is--if the cops want you in, you're going.  Sad, really.

I GuaranDamnTeeYa this is a FACT! Even if your BAC is less than .08, if a cop wants you, he's gonna take you! Many times I bail idiots out of jail, that if they would have just kept their big mouths shut, they woulda never have got anything more than a warning and an order to get home, NOW!
Logged
I'm the guy your mother warned you about!
 

Offline NHSparky

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 24431
  • Reputation: +1280/-617
  • Where are you going? I was gonna make espresso!
Re: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2009, 04:41:14 PM »
Quote from: AllosaursRus on May 18, 2009, 04:18:47 PM
I GuaranDamnTeeYa this is a FACT! Even if your BAC is less than .08, if a cop wants you, he's gonna take you! Many times I bail idiots out of jail, that if they would have just kept their big mouths shut, they woulda never have got anything more than a warning and an order to get home, NOW!

Kind of the old Ron White quote, "I had the **right** to remain silent, but I didn't have the **ability**...."
Logged
“Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him better take a closer look at the American Indian.”  -Henry Ford

Offline AllosaursRus

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11672
  • Reputation: +424/-293
  • Skip Tracing by Contract Only!
Re: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2009, 05:08:36 PM »
Quote from: NHSparky on May 18, 2009, 04:41:14 PM
Kind of the old Ron White quote, "I had the **right** to remain silent, but I didn't have the **ability**...."

You got it, Sparky!!! H5!
Logged
I'm the guy your mother warned you about!
 
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »