Florida Cops Failed to Calibrate Intoxilyzer 8000 for Thousands of DUI Charges

Flroida law enforcement had not been properly maintaining the Breathalyzer, as they were failing to calibrate the Intoxilyzer 8000. In other words, thousands of people in Florida convicted of DUI, may not have been under the influence at all!

Investigators have uncovered documents and emails that prove that Florida knew there were problems and didn't do anything to correct it for more than two and half years. Sarasota deputy noticed there was a problem recording breath samples and breath flow levels as far back as 2007 and his notes reveal that he even alerted an inspector who agreed there was a problem. Those notes prompted an email from the head of the breath testing program, Laura Barfield, telling inspectors not to write down flow sensor problems in their field notes. It is believed that almost half of every Intoxilyzer 8000 used in the state of Florida is not properly calibrated.

This information is very troubling. How often are cops and officers covering up information? In the many drunk driving charges I defend, I often find situations where it just seems to easy for the police to falsify information. That's why each DUI allegations requires an experienced criminal defense lawyer looking over everything and finding potential problems with the prosecutor's case. Stories like the above and various situations I run into remind me of the serious work us criminal defense attorneys are called to.