DUI Breath Test “Blow Hard” Instruction Improper
On January 23, 2013 a SC judge ruled that the instruction to “blow hard” when administering a DUI breath test invalidated the results and ruled it inadmissible in court. The court noted that “There is simply no way to avoid the unavoidable conclusion that instructing a subject to “blow hard” is not a proper procedure,” reasoned the judge.
The issue in question was whether the admissibility requirement of “proper procedure in the testing process,” as required by State v. Parker, was met. The video recorded DUI breath test procedure showed the officer instructing the accused several times to “blow hard” during the two-minute sampling period.
Evidence in the Case
During the motion to suppress the defense presented the following:
- The breath test report;
- The video recored breath test procedure instruction “Blow Hard.”
- Datatmaster owner guide;
- “Proper procedure” directives of the The SLED/Criminal Justice Academy sanctioned Recertification Materials;
- BAC Datamaster recirtification Training Program and video
- Defense expert, Dr. William Brewer, PhD (Physical chemistry)(former SLED toxicologist);
- Scientific journal.
It was determined that SLED has no regulation or policy addressing the actual proper/improper method of giving a breath sample, except the owner manual and recertification video advising a subject to “blow hard.” The defense expert testified that instructing a subject to “blow hard” was not the proper procedure and no evidence was made by the City as to the proper procedure and practice of the blow hard instruction was improper.
What did the court find?
Having determined that the proper DUI breath test was not used in this case the judge found the City failed to establish a proper foundation under State v. Parker and therefore the DUI breath test must be suppressed.
DUI Attorney Charleston, South Carolina
If you have been arrested for DUI in Charleston call an experienced and trusted Charleston DUI Lawyer at the Dale Savage Law Firm, today 843-530-7813.