Back in 2014, I wrote a blog looking a few years into the future, to the year 2020. I definitely did not have “global pandemic” on my bingo board, but in some ways, I wasn’t that far off. Here’s a look back: “The year is 2020. You and your friends were out celebrating an event…
Memorial Day weekend is almost here! For many of us, this holiday of remembrance also marks the beginning of summertime, a season of vacations, barbecues, pool parties, and suntans. But celebrate responsibly, because DUI task forces are in full swing. A few years ago, police departments together on a Memorial Day initiative arrested over 300…
A tale of two judges perceived to be polar opposites. Sonya Sotomayor—the liberal Democratic nominee of the Obama administration and Neil Gorsuch—the conservative republican nominee of the Trump administration do not seem like likely allies. When most of us envision Supreme Court justices hotly debating issues, we imagine a split largely down party lines. After…
In Arizona, the State has a right under our implied consent statute to obtain a blood/breath sample if you’re arrested on suspicion of DUI. However, there have been concerns about the language an officer uses to inform an arrestee of this law and what a suspect faces if he or she refuses to consent to a…
Over the past year, news articles and scandals about ‘rogue’ crime labs all across the country have started to surface. The attached story about falsified or misleading analyst testimony supports suspect test results in court. These instances of deliberately falsifying or manipulating test results is shocking: think of all of the wrongful convictions made under faulty DNA or blood…
Break out the green beer, St. Patrick’s Day is here! This Sunday, March 17th marks the holiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland. Celebrations and events are taking place all over the Valley (click here for a guide), and they will no doubt be lively, with music, food, dancing, prizes and giveaways. So get in…
Before we look to the promising year ahead, let’s take a few minutes to look back. A great deal has happened this past year. Let’s sum up the important key points. Holidays are notorious for DUI crackdown efforts. Although it is always wise to exercise caution by leaving the keys at home, designating a sober…
The holidays are beginning to wind down and the New Year quickly approaches. But that joyful feeling is still lingering in the air. As you celebrate the season and spend time with family and friends, remember that police DUI task forces are always amped up during this time of year. The Arizona Department of Public…
The United States Supreme Court has recently agreed to hear an important new case. Missouri v. McNeely involves a DUI blood draw done without consent and without a warrant. Typically, when a person is arrested on suspicion of DUI and refuses to do a blood or a breath test, the officer is legally required to…
The University of Greece has recently published a report on thermal imaging of intoxication technology this year in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics. It describes the new testing method, which uses various algorithms to scan images from thermal cameras for signs and symptoms of intoxication. This is simply astounding (and scary)….
