DUI Defendant Wins Source Code to Breathalyzer

MyrddinBach writes "CNet's Police Blotter column looks into a Minnesota drunk driving defendant case with a twist. The defendant says he needs the source code to the Intoxilyzer 5000EN to fight the charges in court. Apparently the company has agreed to turn over the code to the defense. 'A judge granted the defendant's request, but Michael Campion, Minnesota's commissioner in charge of public safety, opposed it. Minnesota quickly asked an appeals court to intervene, which it declined to do. Then the state appealed a second time. What became central to the dispute was whether the source code was owned by the state or CMI, the maker of the Intoxilyzer.'"

What I would do first

[Kohath]

grep it for "Boris Yeltsin"

Intoxilyzer?

[Anonymous Coward]

Intoxilyzer? Really? That sounds like the name of a Judas Priest album or something...Painkiller, Turbo Lover, Juggulator, Intoxilyzer...

SCO?

[Goody]

Does the defendant work for SCO?

Source Code Revealed

[fyrie]

10 print "U R DRUNK!!!"
20 GOTO 10

Re:What about

[Copperhead]

This post is going to go in the dictionary under "begging the question".

I just love this quote

[microbee]

(his attorney, Jeffrey Sheridan, as saying) the source code was necessary because otherwise "for all we know, it's a random number generator."

Language?

[Bazman]

What's it written in? Double Visional Basic? Lishp?

Brainf**k maybe...

Re:Owner

[blackicye]

The code is owned by the company that makes the equipment. So what? Information which matters in a court case gets subpoenaed all the time. What makes software any different then private mail, bank account records, or anything else?

Hmmmm..I think you're on to something!

1) Perform incriminating act involving proprietary device.
2) Get Caught.
3) Demand Source Code to said device.
4) ???
5) Profit?

err or something like that

Re:Wow....

[edraven]

That's the source code for the cops. The breathalizer is probably more complicated. ;)

Re:state==public domain?

[Icarus1919]

Hey, you wanna take a stroll with me on the lawn of the White House? It's really pretty this time of year. It's public property, ya know.

Is the guy looking for bugs in the source?

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder if he had his own 'buffer overflow' right in front of the officer? Maybe some wayward output streams?

Re:state==public domain?

[clem]

...you'll probably get hit with wreckless driving....

Yeah, I once had wreckless driving put on my record. My insurance premiums blew through the cellar.

Re:What about

[AvitarX]

I can't believe I am seeing "begging the question" used correctly.

Even Isaac Newton got it wrong. [google.com]

Just how big are you anyway?

[ColdWetDog]

You can drink and be perfectly fine behind the wheel of a car.

Sure you can, just as long as the car is sitting perfectly still in the parking lot.

For my weight I can legally drink around 7 beers/drinks before I hit the .08 limit.

According to this chart [ohsinc.com] you weigh, oh, about 600 pounds. Or you drink very slowly and don't seem to do much else besides hang around in bars and post on slashdot. Either way, I'd suggest professional help.

Re:state==public domain?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think legal limit should be determined by a driving skills test. If I can drift race better at .10 BAC than an elderly person can drive the speed limit, I should be allowed to drive the speed limit at .10 BAC. Or the elderly person should be forced to stop driving...

Better yet, you should be able to challenge any DUI by challenging the arresting officer to a race. I guess you can already do that.

Now if only we could make a rule that backup is cheating...