What happened to the kids that requested the source code to a breathalyzer?

[AgaBoogaBoo]

A while back, some kids were arrested for DUI or something similar, it related to alcohol obviously, and after being tested, they requested to see the source code to the breathalyzer so they could make sure it works properly or something.

Anyone know what became of that? Anyone else even remember the story?

 

[mugs]

Sounds familiar, but it doesn't sound like it would be a successful tactic. They can prove the Breath-a-lyzer works without revealing how.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Found some stuff:

http://news.com.com/Police+blotter+Clos...al/2100-1028_3-5906042.html?tag=news.2
http://news.com.com/Breathalyzer+source...ed/2100-1028_3-5931553.html?tag=news.1

 

[txrandom]

If they were really smart, they'd still the source code and then but the breathalyzer company out of business.

 

[BlancoNino]

Heh, it's no news to me that breathalyzers are a scam and a terrible way to determine a BAC level.

 

[MrDudeMan]

you people must not know how embedded systems work. the device has a sensor and outputs a value based on how much alcohol it detected in a given sample. there is no way to fib that in hardware unless they break it on purpose, which i seriously doubt. so basically the sensor produces data which is read in by a microcontroller or microprocessor, run through some definitely simple code, and the result is produced. im sorry but if you think its more complicated than that and it is somehow producing wrong answers because the software is screwed up, then you have a good conspiracy theory going and you should get your tinfoil hat. i design embedded systems and this is a dead simple one.

edit: this post is mostly for blanconino

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
you people must not know how embedded systems work. the device has a sensor and outputs a value based on how much alcohol it detected in a given sample. there is no way to fib that in hardware unless they break it on purpose, which i seriously doubt. so basically the sensor produces data which is read in by a microcontroller or microprocessor, run through some definitely simple code, and the result is produced. im sorry but if you think its more complicated than that and it is somehow producing wrong answers because the software is screwed up, then you have a good conspiracy theory going and you should get your tinfoil hat. i design embedded systems and this is a dead simple one.

edit: this post is mostly for blanconino

Hmm, explain that to a guy I know who was ticketed with a DUI and it was later proved in court (since he fought it quite well) that the breathalyzer wasn't accurate. Only costed him a couple thousand in lawyer and court fees, but at least he won.

I don't think there is a "conspiracy" at all. Only a reasonable amount of intelligence is required to figure out that we no longer enforce laws to keep the peace and protect others, but instead to get as many laws on the book as possible (even with minimal amounts of justification) to write tickets with ridiculous fines to increase the budget.

 

[KingGheedora]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
you people must not know how embedded systems work. the device has a sensor and outputs a value based on how much alcohol it detected in a given sample. there is no way to fib that in hardware unless they break it on purpose, which i seriously doubt. so basically the sensor produces data which is read in by a microcontroller or microprocessor, run through some definitely simple code, and the result is produced. im sorry but if you think its more complicated than that and it is somehow producing wrong answers because the software is screwed up, then you have a good conspiracy theory going and you should get your tinfoil hat. i design embedded systems and this is a dead simple one.

edit: this post is mostly for blanconino

It is obviously coded to hate on minorities.

 

[iamaelephant]

Originally posted by: txrandom
If they were really smart, they'd still the source code and then but the breathalyzer company out of business.

In English?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: KingGheedora

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
you people must not know how embedded systems work. the device has a sensor and outputs a value based on how much alcohol it detected in a given sample. there is no way to fib that in hardware unless they break it on purpose, which i seriously doubt. so basically the sensor produces data which is read in by a microcontroller or microprocessor, run through some definitely simple code, and the result is produced. im sorry but if you think its more complicated than that and it is somehow producing wrong answers because the software is screwed up, then you have a good conspiracy theory going and you should get your tinfoil hat. i design embedded systems and this is a dead simple one.

edit: this post is mostly for blanconino

It is obviously coded to hate on minorities.

:laugh:

 

[CycloWizard]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Hmm, explain that to a guy I know who was ticketed with a DUI and it was later proved in court (since he fought it quite well) that the breathalyzer wasn't accurate. Only costed him a couple thousand in lawyer and court fees, but at least he won.

I don't think there is a "conspiracy" at all. Only a reasonable amount of intelligence is required to figure out that we no longer enforce laws to keep the peace and protect others, but instead to get as many laws on the book as possible (even with minimal amounts of justification) to write tickets with ridiculous fines to increase the budget.

A false reading doesn't mean that the source code is the problem. More likely, the calibration is bad. Trying to keep sensors calibrated is not trivial even if you know how they work.