Section 36-18-50 Legislative findings. - Alabama Statutes

Section 36-18-50

Legislative findings.

The Legislature finds, determines, and declares the following:

(1) Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance continues to be a major problem on the highways of our state and causes the death or injury of thousands of our citizens each year.

(2) The Legislature should use whatever authority is available to it to discourage driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, including the levying of fines therefor at a level which will discourage such activity.

(3) Administering and implementing a quality chemical testing program for alcohol and controlled substances is costly for the taxpayers and thus the convicted offender should bear a greater portion of the financial burden of the chemical testing program at the state and local level.

(4) The chemical breath testing program conducted by this state has reduced the number of deaths and injuries, and the program continues to be the most effective and the most efficient scientific method to accurately determine if a driver has too much alcohol or a controlled substance in his or her system which would affect his or her ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

(5) The accuracy and reliability of the chemical testing procedures must be beyond reasonable doubt since a defendant may be convicted under Act 95-784 if the prosecuting attorney introduces a chemical test showing blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or more.

(6) The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has properly upgraded the rules and regulations for breath testing to further insure that all tests meet scientific standards for accuracy and reliability as defined by the Supreme Court of Alabama in the case of Mayo v. City of Madison, SC #1921892, 652 So. 2d 201 (Ala. 1994).

(7) The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and the Alabama Department of Public Safety, without designated funding, have managed, supervised, and conducted all necessary training and in further partnership with city and county law enforcement officers, successfully implemented the breath testing program as required by legislative mandate and in accordance with all court rulings.

(8) The needs of the breath testing program are and should be intimately affected with the public interests.

(9) This article should be liberally construed to accomplish its purposes and to promote the policies contained therein which are declared to be the public policy of this state.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-784, p. 1862, §1.)