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Author Topic: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector  (Read 1608 times)

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Offline Chris

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Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« on: May 17, 2009, 03:04:24 AM »
Found this while poking around the internets...
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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.
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Offline JohnnyReb

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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.
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Offline NHSparky

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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.
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Offline AllosaursRus

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Re: Software Problems with a Breath Alcohol Detector
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2009, 04:18:47 PM »
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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!
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Offline NHSparky

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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**...."
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Offline AllosaursRus

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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!
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