|
|
Thursday, March 18, 2021
By Michael Nichols
Categories: Drunk-Driving
It looks as if the State of Michigan is ready to scrap the "Datamaster DMT" Breath Alcohol Device. The Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division (MSP FSD) Director has asked Michigan Criminal/DUI attorney Mike Nichols to serve on an advisory committee to help the state go forward with an analysis of the DMT and its efficacy.
"I could see the writing on the wall when it got back to me that the technical leader of the breath alcohol program was trashing the DMT at an International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference last year," says Nichols, who is author of the pre-eminent drunk driving manual for Michigan lawyers: the West OWI Manual. Mr. Nichols is 1 of just 4 lawyers statewide who will serve on the committee.
Nichols and the team at the Nichols Law Firm obtained thousands of texts messages and emails from the technical leader of the breath alcohol program, W. Mark Fondren, his sworn (law enforcement) colleague for about 18 months, Sgt. Gina Gettel, and the 2 disgraced technicans who were servicing the DMT's through a multi-million dollar contract with Intoximeters, Inc. Nichols says "you could tell that Mr. Fondren was gently trying to nudge people to consider dumping the DMT and replacing it with a product from CMI, which is a company with whom he is familiar from his service in Texas a few years ago.
Nichols just updated the OWI book for 2021 and will be serving, along with just 3 other lawyers, as the "defense side" advisors on this study.
For the leaders in Michigan law and practice, find out how we are committed to results by emailing Mike Nichols at mnichols@nicholslaw.net or call us at 517 432 9000.