Driving under the influence

Forensic scientists work with physical evidence, ie, "data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents or objects." Physical evidence is teal or tangible and can HteraHy include almost anything, eg, the transient scent of perfume on the clothing of an assault victim the metaboHte of a dmg detected in the urine of an individual in a driving-under-the-influence-of-dmgs case the scene of an explosion or bullets removed from a murder victim s body. 

Alcohol. The number of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUl) cases reflects the enormity of the dmnken driving problem in the United States (9). Tests to measure blood alcohol concentration are conducted on blood, urine, or breath (10). In the case of urine and breath, the alcohol concentration measured is reported in terms of the equivalent blood alcohol concentration. Most states in the United States presume that a person is under the influence of alcohol with respect to driving a motor vehicle at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%, ie, an ethanol concentration >10 g/100 mL of blood. Some states maintain a lower necessary concentration of 0.08%. In some European countries levels are as low as 0.05%. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% in a 68-kg (150-lb) person is the equivalent of about four drinks of 80 proof alcohoHc beverage or four 340-g (12-oz) beers in the body at the time of the test (see Beer Beverage spirits, distilled Wine). Ethanol is metabolized at the equivalent rate of about one drink per hour. 

Other Substances. Driving under the influence of alcohol cases are compHcated because people sometimes consume alcohol with other substances (11—13). The most common iUicit substances taken with alcohol are marijuana and cocaine (see Table 1) (14). In combination with alcohol, some dmgs have an additive effect. When a blood or urine alcohol sample is tested for alcohol and the result is well below the legal concentration threshold yet the test results are not consistent with the arresting officers observation that the subject was stuporous, further toxicological tests for the possible presence of dmgs are indicated. 

A final example of an application of balanced chemical equation involves the use of one form of the breath analyzer used by police to determine if someone was driving under the influence of alcohol. The chemical equation guiding the reaction when someone breaths into the instrument is... 

Over 90% of alcohol consumed is oxidized in the liver much of the remainder is excreted through the lungs and in the urine. The excretion of a small but consistent proportion of alcohol by the lungs can be quantified with breath alcohol tests that serve as a basis for a legal definition of "driving under the influence" in many countries. At levels of ethanol usually achieved in blood, the rate of oxidation follows zero-order kinetics that is, it is independent of time and concentration of the drug. The typical adult can metabolize 7-10 g (150-220 mmol) of alcohol per hour, the equivalent of approximately one "drink" [10 oz (300 mL) beer, 3.5 oz (105 mL) wine, or 1 oz (30 mL) distilled 80-proof spirits]. 

The effects of Salvia are very different from those of alcohol but like alcohol, it impairs coordination. NEVER, EVER, ATTEMPT TO DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SALVIA-DOING SO COULD PROVE FATAL ... 

Raymon, L.P., Steele, B.W., and Walls, H.C., Benzodiazepines in Miami-Dade County, Florida driving under the influence (DUI) cases (1995-1998) with an emphasis on Rohypnol GC-MS confirmation, patterns of use, psychomotor impairment, and results of Florida legislation, J. Anal. Toxicol., 23, 490, 1999. 

Conviction under the New Jersey law carries a fine of between 250 and 400 and up to 30 days in jail for a first offense. The offender can also lose their driver s license for six months to a year. For a second conviction, the penalty is a 500 to 1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Offenders must also perform 30 days of community service work and lose their driver s license for two years. A third or subsequent conviction carries a 1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Offenders also forfeit then-driver s license for 10 years. In West Virginia, the minimum penalty for conviction of driving under the influence of amyl nitrite is one day in county jail and a 100 fine. The maximum sentence is six months in jail and a 500 fine. 

Some people who abuse barbiturates do not worry about driving under the influence. The reason is not because they are confident about their ability to drive, but because they know that police will not smell alcohol on their breath. 

LC-MS/MS procedure for the determination of the main marketed antidepressants in plasma and oral fluid to assess the possible correlation between the concentrations found in these two biological matrices. Also Coulter et al. [35] validated a LC-MS/MS methodology for several antidepressants and two other psychopharmaceuticals in oral fluid for its application to driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases. 

Detection of subjects driving under the influence of sedative antidepressants effects. 

Wille SM, Raes E, Lillsunde P, Gunnar T, Laloup M, Samyn N, Christophersen AS, Moeller MR, Hammer KP, Verstraete AG (2009) Relationship between oral fluid and blood concentrations of drugs of abuse in drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs. Ther Drug Monit 31 (4) 511—519. doi 10.1097/FTD.0b013e3181ae46ea... 

Toennes SW, Kauert GF, Steinmeyer S, Moeller MR (2005) Driving under the influence of drugs - evaluation of analytical data of drugs in oral fluid, serum and urine, and correlation with impairment symptoms. Forensic Sci Int 152(2—3) 149—155. doi S0379-0738(04)00443-8 [pii] 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.08.002... 

The authors conclude that drug use among DWI offenders may be much more widespread than is indicated by self-report. Drunk drivers and drugged drivers also reported significant differences in attitudes about driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. 

A forensic laboratory analyses blood samples from drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. The legal blood alcohol level for driving is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood (80 mg%). The method used to analyse the blood samples will have been thoroughly validated at this concentration, to determine its accuracy and precision so as to ensure that innocent drivers are not found guilty, etc. If a lower limit of 50 mg% is introduced then the method will have to be validated at this lower concentration. 

In some states, possession of an intoxicant and inhaling specific compounds for intoxication are crimes. Additionally, inhalant intoxication in some cases is prosecuted under DUI (driving under the influence) laws, if the user operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of an inhalant. 

Police involvement About 5% of four-year college students are involved with the police or campus security as a result of their drinking (Wechsler et al., 2002) and an estimated 110,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are arrested for an alcohol-related violation such as public drunkenness or driving under the influence (Hingson et al., 2002). 

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