A drunken driver accused of contributing to the death of an 81 year old woman whose vehicle he rear ended pleaded no contest monday to a reduced charge of intoxication assault.

Guadalupe Montoya was charged with intoxication manslaughter two months after the January 2011 wreck, when Amelia Gomez died while recovering from a torn aorta and broken spine, according to documents in the case.

A medical report said gomez developed pneumonia as a complication of her injuries, but chronic heart disease contributed to her death.  Montoya agreed to a 10 year sentence.  The cause of death probably would have been a contentious issue at trial according to prosecution.

Alcohol related crimes are serious and will land you in jail for many years.  If you have been arrested for a DWI, DUI, Intoxicated Manslaughter or Intoxicated Assault contact an experienced DWI Lawyer at (210) 568-7499 immediately.

Police report San Antonio firefighter Kevin Lee Cyrus, was found just after midnight Saturday asleep behind the wheel with the engine of his pickup running at Macarthur View and Mopac Drive.

Cyrus was charged with one count of driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .15 or higher, which is a class a misdemeanor.  He was released hours after his arrest on a public recognizance bond.

Cyrus has been a San Antonio firefighter for 16 years and this stupid misdemeanor puts his entire career at risk.  Sad story and as a San Antonio DWI Lawyer I can help,  If you know Cyrus tell him to call me immediately at 210-568-7499

The Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) battery is composed of three tests: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk-and-Turn (WAT), and One-Leg Stand (OLS). The tests were developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the late 1970′s. In 1981, law enforcement officers began using NHTSA’s Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) battery at roadside to help determine whether motorists who are suspected of DWI have blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) greater than 0.10 percent. Since 1981, however, many states including Texas have implemented laws that define DWI at BACs below 0.10.

HORIZONTAL GAZE NYSTAGMUS

“Nystagmus” means an involuntary jerking of the eyes. HGN refers to an involuntary jerking occurring as the eyes gaze toward the side. In addition to being involuntary the person experiencing the nystagmus is unaware that the jerking is happening. The theory behind the test is that nystagmus becomes readily noticeable when a person is impaired.
Officers frequently fail to properly administer the HGN. It is crucially important for your attorney to review the videotape, if available to ascertain whether the test was properly administered or whether suppression of the results is possible.

WALK & TURN

The WAT is a divided attention test consisting of two stages: Instruction Stage; and Walking Stage. In the instruction stage, the subject must stand with their feet in heel-to-toe position, keep their arms at their sides, and listen to instructions. The subject must maintain the heel-to-toe position and may not begin walking until all instructions are given. In the Walking Stage the subject takes nine heel-to-toe steps, turns in a prescribed manner, and takes nine heel-to-toe steps back, while counting out loud and watching their feet.

ONE LEG STAND

The OLS is also divided into two stages. In the Instruction Stage, the subject must stand with feet together, keep arms at side and listen to instructions. In the Balance and Counting Stage, the subject must raise the leg of his choice approximately 6 inches off the ground, toes pointed out, keeping legs straight. While looking at the elevated foot, count out load in the following manner: “one thousand and one”, “one thousand and two”, etc, until told to stop. The officer will instruct the subject to stop after 30 secondsThe Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) battery is composed of three tests: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), Walk-and-Turn (WAT), and One-Leg Stand (OLS). The tests were developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the late 1970′s. In 1981, law enforcement officers began using NHTSA’s Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) battery at roadside to help determine whether motorists who are suspected of DWI have blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) greater than 0.10 percent. Since 1981, however, many states including Texas have implemented laws that define DWI at BACs below 0.10.

HORIZONTAL GAZE NYSTAGMUS

“Nystagmus” means an involuntary jerking of the eyes. HGN refers to an involuntary jerking occurring as the eyes gaze toward the side. In addition to being involuntary the person experiencing the nystagmus is unaware that the jerking is happening. The theory behind the test is that nystagmus becomes readily noticeable when a person is impaired.
Officers frequently fail to properly administer the HGN. It is crucially important for your attorney to review the videotape, if available to ascertain whether the test was properly administered or whether suppression of the results is possible.

A pie y a su vez

El WAT es una prueba de atención dividida que consta de dos etapas: la etapa de instrucción; y caminando de la etapa. En la etapa de instrucción, el tema debe permanecer con sus pies en posición de talón a los pies, mantener sus brazos a los lados y escuchar las instrucciones. El sujeto debe mantener la posición de talón a los pies y no empezar a caminar hasta que están dadas todas las instrucciones. En la etapa de caminar el tema toma nueve pasos de talón a los pies, se convierte en una forma prescrita y toma nueve pasos de talón a los pies, mientras contando en voz alta y ver sus pies.

UN STAND DE PIERNA

La operación también se divide en dos etapas. En la etapa de instrucción, el sujeto debe permanecer con los pies juntos, mantener armas al lado y escuchar las instrucciones. En el equilibrio y la etapa de conteo, el tema debe levantar la pierna de su elección aproximadamente 6 pulgadas del suelo, señalaron los dedos, manteniendo las piernas rectas. Mientras mira a los pies elevados, cuenta fuera la carga de la siguiente manera: “mil y una”, “mil y dos”, etc., hasta que dijo a detener. El oficial le indicará el tema para detener después de 30 segundos

THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE

Although breath analysis is probably the most commonly used technique by law enforcement in attempting to establish whether or not a suspect was driving with alcohol in the system beyond a legal limit, the reliability of the tests has been called into question.

Some scientists and experts think that breath tests, as they are currently administered by police, are very inaccurate, as far as their ability to measure blood alcohol content or BAC. Some courts have thrown out breath test results because of their unreliability.

Even with some inherent unreliability in various breath testing machines, errors may be magnified if police do not follow proper procedures, such as in calibrating a machine, testing blank specimens, or in making sure a suspect is not affected by his or her ambient environment.

WHAT IF I REFUSE/CAN I REFUSE THE BREATH TEST?

The truth is that you may have been better off by not submitting to the tests. The officer is required to clearly inform you of the consequences of refusing to take the test. Based on the law of implied consent, one of the consequences for refusing will be an automatic ninety day suspension, which must be preceded by a notice of suspension. You cannot be considered guilty based only on your refusal. If the prosecutor does not have firm test results to use as evidence against you, challenging your DWI charges often comes down to challenging the police officer’s subjective report about the field sobriety test.NO SON FIABLES

Aunque el análisis de aliento es probablemente el más usado técnica por aplicación de la ley al tratar de establecer o no un sospechoso conducía con alcohol en el sistema más allá de un límite legal, la fiabilidad de las pruebas ha sido puesta en cuestión.

Algunos científicos y expertos piensan que pruebas de aliento, son administrados actualmente por la policía, son muy imprecisas, en lo que respecta a su capacidad para medir el contenido de alcohol de la sangre o BAC. Algunos tribunales han arrojado resultados de prueba de aliento debido a su falta de fiabilidad.

Incluso con algunas inexactitudes inherentes en varias máquinas de pruebas de aliento, errores pueden ser aumentados si la policía no siguen los procedimientos adecuados, como en calibrar una máquina, pruebas a especímenes en blanco, o para garantizar un sospechoso no es afectado por su medio ambiente.

¿Y SI ME NIEGO / PUEDO ME NIEGO LA PRUEBA DE ALIENTO?

La verdad es que usted podría haber sido mejor por no someterse a las pruebas. El oficial es necesario informarle claramente las consecuencias de negarse a hacer la prueba. Basado en la ley de consentimiento implícito, una de las consecuencias por negarse será una suspensión automática noventa días, que debe ir precedida por un aviso de suspensión. No puede considerarse culpable basándose únicamente en su negativa. Si el fiscal no tiene resultados firmes para utilizar como evidencia contra usted, desafiando a menudo sus cargos DWI desciende a un desafío informe subjetivo de la policía sobre la prueba de sobriedad de campo.