Title 17 Defenses

Title 17 is the shorthand name for a set of California regulations governing forensic alcohol analysis and breath alcohol analysis. The most common Title 17 defense is the officer’s failure to conduct a 15 minute observation period prior to administering a breath test. Without such a period, the prosecution will be unable to rule out mouth alcohol contamination and the breath test is scientifically unreliable.

DUI Defense #5

→ Officer is unfamiliar with Title 17 despite sworn statement.

DUI Defense #6

→ Officer failed to conduct 15 minute observation period.