OVER ONE THOUSAND TEXAS DWI CONVICTIONS MAY BE SET ASIDE DUE TO FALSIFIED INTOXILYZER RECORDS
In many driving while intoxicated cases in Collin and Dallas Counties, and throughout Texas, the state relies upon a machine known as an Intoxilyzer to try and secure convictions. The theory is that this machine can measure the grams of alcohol present in a specified volume of breath.
Regular maintenance of the machines is critical, and the Department of Public Safety frequently outsources this task. Recently, over one thousand DWI convictions is Harris County Texas were eligible to be set aside because one of the inspectors hired to maintain the instruments simply falsified the maintenance records. This particular inspector handled machines that were used by seven separate police departments. Instead of working, she simply pocketed her salary.
In spite of this, in many of the cases involved here, the "technical supervisors" presumably testified at the trial of those accused of DWI. The techinical supervisors testify to the accuracy and validity of the breath test result. The technical supervisors presumably testfied to the validity and accurance of the breath test results, never knowing of the falsity, and relying completely upon the work of another person.
I see many, many trials where the technical supervisors testify that the breath test result is accurate, frequently relying on someone else's work. I have never had a personal concern about the honesty of any of the technical supervisors I have met in Collin or Dallas County, but the potential for abuse still exists in this system. Our system deserves better.
