Test Results from Dräger DrugTest 5000 Found Scientifically Reliable in California Kelly-Frye Hearing
IRVING, Texas (PRWEB) February 03, 2016 -- Dräger today announced that oral fluid drug test results from its DrugTest 5000 (DT5000) mobile drug screening system were found to be scientifically reliable in a Kelly-Frye hearing for a vehicular manslaughter case in California. The judge’s decision, which is the first scientific-reliability ruling for a device of this kind in the U.S., allowed for the defendant’s DT5000 results to be presented to the jury. This is a landmark case for the use of admissible oral fluid drug test results in the court of law.
In the case of “The People of the State of California v. Junior Salas” (Kern County Superior Court, Bakersfield, Calif.; court case #BF153631A), the jury found the defendant guilty of vehicular manslaughter. Judge Susan M. Gill sentenced Salas on Jan. 19, 2016, to three years in state prison. If there is an appeal, and an appellate court upholds the decision regarding the scientific reliability of the DT5000, the ruling on the admissibility of its results will be made binding throughout California.
Dräger’s DT5000 mobile drug screening system uses oral fluid to test for the presence of psychoactive components from seven of the most commonly abused drug types, including cannabinoids (THC), opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines and methadone. Accurate, reliable and easy to use, the DT5000 is leveraged by law enforcement personnel in more than a dozen states during roadside stops. Offering quick results, the DT5000 provides a non-invasive alternative to collecting urine or blood samples during driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) investigations.
“Dräger understands that DT5000 results need support from policymakers and throughout the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, prosecutors and judges,” said Michael Willis, President, Draeger Safety Diagnostics, Inc. “Due to its broad reach, the DT5000 screening system has undergone extensive, independent, scientific validation and been utilized in approximately one million tests worldwide. This first Kelly-Frye hearing, as well as the push by the Kern County District Attorney’s Office for oral fluid result admissibility in the case, is confirmation that the DT5000 is on its way to becoming a standard screening method for DUID investigations and prosecutions.”
Dräger’s DT5000 is broadly used across Europe and Australia and is currently in field use or pilot programs by law enforcement agencies and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) trained officers in more than a dozen states in the U.S. Due to its extensive testing and scientific validity, the DT5000 is available for immediate placement with law enforcement agencies.
Learn more about Dräger’s DT5000 here.
Dräger. Technology for Life®
Dräger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. Our products protect, support and save lives. Founded in 1889, Dräger generated revenues of around EUR 2.43 billion in 2014. The Dräger Group is currently present in more than 190 countries and has about 13,500 employees worldwide. Please visit draeger.com for more information.
Marion Varec, Dräger, http://www.draeger.com, +1 215-660-2186, [email protected]
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