There is a big kerfuffle in British Columbia about the accuracy of portable breathalyzers police forces are using to measure the blood alcohol level of suspected drunk drivers. Those accuracy questions should be of concern to every driver in Canada, not just in British Columbia. It’s bad enough that some innocent people may have been […]
Is it .08 or not? Continue Reading »
The Solicitor General is wrong. Everyone makes mistakes, and so we do not hold it against her, but her knowledge of the history of ASDs in British Columbia is lacking. In the Canadian Press article from December 26, 2011, she was quoted as having written the following in an email: “These devices are highly accurate
A controversy in B.C. about the reliability of breathalyzers used by police in roadside tests should raise red flags in this province, too. A Vancouver lawyer’s examination of the situation through access to information requests raises questions about the accuracy of such tests. Paul Doroshenko’s investigation showed that in one case, a sober Abbotsford, B.C.,
Breathalyzer tests need to be reliable Continue Reading »
I met with CTV this morning to further explain some of the problems with ASDs following the Canadian Press story published on Boxing Day. We have a significant amount of disclosure showing problems with these devices, but understandably reporters want to cut to the most revealing. Also, much of it is hard to understand unless
Media Storm & Class-Action Update Continue Reading »
Records from police detachments around the province show roadside screening devices are malfunctioning or being improperly maintained says a Vancouver criminal defence lawyer. Paul Doroshenko believes this is why portable breath analyzers should never have been used to provide blood-alcohol results that allow police officers to unilaterally suspend driver’s licences for 90 days. “I’ve been
Records show police alcohol monitoring equipment is malfunctioning Continue Reading »
We are all on vacation at the moment, so we have not had a meeting to discuss the ruling. We will all be back in the office Wednesday, so you can expect a full update soon thereafter. One immediate difficulty that presents is that the Court has not limited the remedies that can be obtained
News that a sober Abbotsford, B.C., police officer tried out the department’s breathalyzer and failed the test is enough to send chills down the spine of any designated driver in this holiday season. A Vancouver lawyer says the machines police rely on to take drunk drivers off the road and deliver hefty financial penalties are
Documents cast doubt on accuracy of breathalyzers Continue Reading »
