New reports surfacing after a Riverside police lieutenant was involved in a DUI accident in early February reveal that the officer had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level nearly twice the legal limit. According to the criminal complaint filed with the Riverside County Superior Court, the off-duty police lieutenant was driving a city-issued Ford Explorer around 3:20 a.m. in the 6700 block of Rycroft Drive in Riverside’s Canyon Crest area when he crashed into a mailbox and retaining wall. Field-sobriety tests administered at the scene found the officer visibly intoxicated. His BAC was .15., according to the complaint.

Under current California law, the legal BAC limit is .08 percent – although law enforcement officers do have the right to arrest drivers with a lower BAC if they believe that they are too impaired to drive. As other countries have enacted laws in recent years enforcing lower BAC limits, the National Transportation Safety Board announced their recommendation last month for U.S. states to lower the BAC limit even further to .05 percent. Regardless of the current laws and limits in place, the fact remains that DUIs have become a prominent concern for law enforcement agencies throughout the nation.

CHALLENGING BAC EVIDENCE & PROTECTING YOUR FUTURE

While this particular case may raise more concern and attention for its media-potent characteristics, it does serve to illustrate the fact that law enforcement officers rely heavily on chemical tests as evidence when pushing for DUI convictions. Whether it is a breath test or a blood test, these chemical diagnostics are not free from error. In fact, breathalyzers used at the scene of arrests are notorious for producing inaccurate readings and for producing erroneous BAC levels. As breathalyzers are fickle machines that require routine maintenance and calibration, any failure to keep these devices in tip-top shape can cast doubt on the readings they produce.

Attorney Thomas Wallin, the founding lawyer of the Law Offices of Thomas Wallin, knows that challenging BAC evidence is essential to challenging the prosecution’s case. By using his extensive resources and experience, Attorney Wallin can conduct thorough investigations that include a full review of testing equipment maintenance records to ensure that the devices being used were properly maintained and capable of producing accurate readings.

While focusing on the BAC evidence in a DUI case is a crucial component of your defense, these cases also demand meticulous attention paid to each and every aspect and legal element involved. Attorney Wallace and his team of Riverside DUI lawyers make every effort to address all matters inherent to a case, including criminal court proceedings and DMV hearings. From investigation to case preparation to trial if necessary, the Law Offices of Thomas Wallin fights aggressively on behalf of clients. If you would like more information about BAC limits and challenging BAC evidence, or if you wish to discuss your case personally with a Riverside DUI lawyer, contact the firm today.