Appellate Court Reviews Alcotest Procedures in New Jersey DWI Cases

Drivers in New Jersey are obligated by state law to provide breath samples to police when they suspect driving while intoxicated (DWI). Police throughout the state use a device known as the Alcotest to determine a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC). We were involved in a case before the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2008, State v. Chun, which resulted in detailed rules for the use and maintenance of Alcotest devices. This includes a requirement of two separate breath tests. The New Jersey Appellate Division considered an appeal last fall from a DWI defendant who argued that the police did not follow the requirements set out in Chun. The court’s ruling addresses how precise police must be with regard to waiting between breath tests.

Prosecutors can prove, for the purposes of the DWI statute, that a defendant was under the influence of alcohol by presenting evidence of BAC at or above 0.08 percent. State law requires drivers to submit to breath testing, viewing the act of driving on New Jersey roads as giving implied consent. Refusal to provide breath samples upon request by police is a separate motor vehicle offense, punishable by a fine and driver’s license suspension.

The New Jersey Supreme Court’s ruling in Chun addressed numerous concerns about the Alcotest device’s accuracy and reliability. The court found that police must collect at least two samples, by which the driver exhales into a tube connected to the device. A special master appointed by the court noted the potential for contamination during the time between a driver submits their first breath sample and their second. To account for this, the device’s software locks everything down for two minutes to give the machine time to clear out the first breath sample.

In the case considered by the Appellate Division last fall, the defendant was involved in a car accident. A police officer transported him to the station to perform a breath test. The results showed BAC well above 0.08 percent. The defendant entered a conditional guilty plea and appealed. He argued to both the municipal court and the Law Division that the state had not produced sufficient evidence to show that two full minutes had passed between the first and second breath tests. The report showed that he submitted breath samples at 6:44 and 6:46 a.m. An expert witness called by the defendant testified that it was impossible to tell if this showed a two-minute span of time since the report showed hours and minutes, but not seconds.

Both lower courts rejected this argument. The Law Division based its decision in part on an unpublished opinion issued in 2012, which involved a similar set of facts. The Appellate Division ruled in the present case that relying on that decision was an error. It also ruled, however, that the expert witness’ testimony about the Alcotest device was not enough to establish reasonable doubt. The evidence indicated that the device was in working order and properly calibrated. The court held that “[s]light deviations to the two-minute period…[does not] undermine the reliability of the test results.”

If you are facing charges of alleged DWI in a New Jersey municipal court, DWI attorney Evan Levow can advise you of your legal rights and options. Please contact us today online or at (877) 593-1717 to schedule a free and confidential consultation to see how our experienced team can help you.