We train monkeys, not people.
Only in a lab.
And training in the use of an instrument means nothing if one does not have the scientific background in assessing measurements .
How do you figure?
The nurse who draws blood does not have to know how to conduct the tests to assess the contents of the blood. Frankly, the DOCTOR likely does not know how to separate the blood and how to conduct the tests to assess the blood. The nurse takes the blood and the doctor interprets the results. The engineer that made the machine, and the technician that operates them are responsible for the machine working properly.
One could train a monkey to operate an instrument, does that mean he has the prerequisite knowledge required to get valid data off of such instruments?
Maybe. But, we don't train monkeys to tell people to blow into a tube - we train people to do that.
There is no legal requirement in any state I an aware of that requires to testify to more than the basic concepts behind the breath machine they operate.
The vast majority of officers have only a HS diploma; they have no idea of Netwon's rules or the ethical requirements in measurement taking.
I suppose you mean "Newton." Well, I have a college degree - a couple of them - and I don't know what you mean by "Newton's rules." I am also confused as to what you mean by the term, "ethical requirements in measurement taking."
Once again, knowledge of science is NOT a legal requirement to operate the machines. One does not have to be a scientist to operate a machine.
I have not seen an officer even understand the scientific principles behind all of the instruments that they do us & if they don't understand even the basic concepts of the instrument then how can they even evaluate the results?
The officer is not required to now anything more than the most basic concept of how the machine functions. Plus, as I mentioned the officer is not evaluating the results. he is sing the reading provided by the device. He evaluates nothing. Nada. Zip. He takes the reading and acts accordingly under the law in his state. If at or above the per se limit, then the charge will be a per se violation. if under, then the violation may be a general impairment section, another offense, or maybe a dropping of the charges and release of the suspect. That's a different process but based upon the reading.
They are just given equipment & are shown how to get some type of value measurement out of it and told to go catch some bad guys & make some cash. And off they go.
<sigh> They don't make any cash off the deal. Sorry you seem to feel that DUI drivers are some sort of oppressed class of people, but they aren't. You make a decision to drive impaired, you put all of us at risk. You get caught, you suffer the consequences.
We give all manner of people machines and devices to use and teach them how to use them even if they do not fully know how the results are obtained. Check in any hospital and you will find many nurses, clinicians, technicians, and doctors that take tests and utilize devices without being able to tell you with any detail how the machine gets the results they do only that the result indicates X, Y and/or Z.
I don;t know where you get the idea that an officer also has to be a trained criminologist and expert in the theory behind the breath machine. It certainly has no legal foundation. If it is something you'd like to see, then lobby your legislature to identify funding necessary to train every officer in your state as a criminologist with expertise in BAC breath machines. Good luck with that.
