A more indepth look at Chinese maritime law enforcement

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I've spent sometime the last couple of days preparing for a more informative post on cutters from different Chinese coast guard/maritime surveillance agencies. This is my attempt at a comprehensive look at Chinese maritime enforcement.

I would say that a good place to start is by looking at the Law Enforcement Cutters section of the Sinodefence Naval Vessel Page. Generally speaking, there are five agencies with a large hand in China's maritime law enforcement. The picture below shows the agencies and what is the prefix for their ship names.


The first one listed in there is the China Maritime Surveillance (CMS) of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). The CMS has the primary mission of patrolling China’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A 2008 report in China Daily revealed that CMS had a total of nine aircraft and more than 200 patrol vessels. The largest CMS ship right now is Haijian-83. It is in 3000 ton class and here is an article on it

That is followed by the 1500-ton Haijian-51. This ship has gotten into numerous confrontations with the Japanese over at East China Sea.

The 1200-ton Haijian-27 (aka 1000t-class Type II) cutter.


The 1150-ton Haijian-17/46 (aka 1000t-class Type I) cutter


A new 600-ton design


There are more ships in CMS, but these are just an example of the ships. It also recently received two ships that used to be Type-037 patrol boats for PLAN.

In October 2008, CMS Deputy Director Sun Shuxian declared that, “The [CMS] force will be upgraded to a reserve unit under the navy, a move which will make it better armed during patrols … the current defensive strength of CMS is inadequate”. CMS has stepped up patrol in both South and East China Sea. The build-up in South China Sea is really significant because it comes on the heel of large PLAN SSF build-up and China's recent elevation of South China Sea to Tibet/Taiwan in terms of Sovereignty discussions. We all know about the numerous confrontations between China and USN in this area recently. We have also read about numerous issues with Vietnamese in the same area. It looks like CMS' desires to take over many of the duties currently conducted by SSF as that fleet is moving further blue sea. The diagram below is the organization of the South Sea branch of CMS.


Probably the more significant part is the tremendous expansion that is currently under way for CMS's South Sea branch. According to a June 2009 article, they are planning more cutters of 4000t, 1500t and 1000t class. In fact, we've already seen the first 1000t-class Type II launched in HP shipyard as Haijian-75. At the same time, a 1500t-class cutter is under construction next to the 5th 054A in the dry dock of HP. Rumour is that HP will build a total of 4 1000t-class, 2 1500t-class and 1 4000t-class. Either way, we are seeing a huge expansion of CMS.

The second listed ministry is the Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) and its ships begin with the prefix YuZheng. FLEC is given the task of preventing illegal fishing activities in China’s coastal fisheries. The largest FLEC vessel to this date is YuZheng-88. It is actually converted from replenishment ship 888 that had just entered PLAN SSF a few years ago, so this is a 15,000t-class ship.

There are also several other large cutters in service like the 2500t-class Yuzheng-310 and 4000t-class Yuzheng-311


There are several other larger cutters like Yuzheng301 and Yuzheng303




The third listed ministry is the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of the Ministry of Transport. Its ships begin with the prefix Haixun or Haibiao. In terms of manpower, MSA exceeds any of the other maritime enforcement agencies with over 20,000 personnel, reflecting both the power of China’s commercial maritime interests generally, and the range of missions—from certifying seafarers to maintaining aids to navigation—that MSA oversees. MSA is headlined by the two largest ship in their inventory Haixun-11 and Haixun-31. They are both 3000t cutters.
Haixun-11 is built for Shandong branch of MSA

Haixun-31 is built for Guangdong branch of MSA.

There is also the 1500t-class Haixun-21 built for the Shanghai branch.

And here are a couple of other smaller MSA ships.


Despite having the most personnel, MSA does not have the most impressive fleet of cutters. The expansion of MSA is more even than CMS, with Shandong (next to yellow sea), Shanghai (next to East China Sea) and Guangdong (next to South China Sea) all getting their largest cutters. MSA cutters come together in South China Sea or East China Sea for patrolling exercises a couple of times a year. MSA will also be getting a 5000t-class cutter soon, which will be the largest and most modern cutter in service (if we don't include YuZheng-88).


The fourth listed ministry is the anti-smuggling force of the General Administration of Customs. Its ships begin with the prefix Haiguan. It is probably the ministry that has seen the least new ships. I guess that indicates the general lower rank of the customs. It just have a few smaller ships like below.





The fifth listed ministry is the Coast Guard (aka Maritime Police in Chinese), which is under the control of PAP. Despite its name, it is neither the largest or the most influential of the ministries. Its ships begin with the prefix Haijing.
The most modern vessel in its fleet is Haijing-1001.

It has received 2 ex-Jianghu class frigates which were given the numbers 1002 and 1003. I believe as more Jianghu ships get decommissioned, the coast guard maybe getting more of them.

I have also posted several other vessels below, but they are really not that modern compared to what we are seeing for some of the other ministries.




In summary, it looks like CMS and MSA are undergoing the largest expansions among the ministries. I believe much of those ships will be delivered to the branches serving the East and South China Sea. These are part of China's effort to have more control in the disputed waters. As with PLAN, civilian maritime fleet were seriously neglected until recent times. So even with the recent expansion effort, it is much smaller and less potent than US and Japanese Coast Guard. The different agencies are procuring more aircraft recently to help with maritime patrol, but they are still tiny compared to that of US and Japan. At the same time, I'm also wary about how so many agencies would be able to work together in offshore patrol. Even so, the maritime agencies (especially CMS and MSA) have indeed expanded and improved a lot in the recent year. And with all of the major recent incidents, they have only expanded the pace of their expansions. I am also interested in seeing how these civilian agencies interact with the navy in patrolling duties. For example, would PLAN delegate patrolling activities to these agencies and not bother with having an OPV class?

Regardless, I think this is one significant development in Chinese maritime aspirations that is not really covered that well by PLA-watchers like myself or foreign government agencies. Like? A more indepth look at Chinese maritime law enforcement for wallpaper? Shar this image to A more indepth look at Chinese maritime law enforcement for your friend.

054A photos from HP shipyard + Varyag photos

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I've come across some really good photos of new 054A from HP shipyard and recent photos of Varyag. First, for the 5th 054A and also the 4th 054A from HP:
More detailed photos of the 5th 054A, looks like most of the sensors are already installed. I'm still a little shocked by how it just appeared.



The 4th 054A from HP, No 548, resting in the dock with Haijian-75, one of the new cutters.



Now, recent photos of Varyag from Dalian. It looks like a lot of work has been done since the last set of photos we've seen. The island is now all painted, although the sensors are still yet to be installed. There are still many boxes, containers, cables and generators sitting on its deck. I will let you guys make judgment on how it's progressing.




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New 054A + MSA ships

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First of all, I was hit with a huge surprise yesterday morning when I saw pictures of the 5th 054A from HP shipyard. Normally, we see a nice progression of photos of the ship being built, but this one was almost ready to be launched by the time we got the first photos. On top of that, I had expected PLAN to stop producing 054 ships for a while after the 2nd batch of 4 were completed. After more extended look and checking my sources, it does appear to be authentically the 5th 054A from HP shipyard. They did a really good job of hiding this ship behind a civilian ship, so we did not know it was being built all along. By the time this ship was in plain sight, it was already fitted with sensors. This ship appears to be a little different from the previous 4 from far out, so I'm eagerly waiting for more close up photos before it is launched. As we know, 054 ships normally get built in pairs with one in HP shipyard and one is HD shipyard. With the appearance of this one, we can assume a 5th one will also be built in HD. That indicates we would have at least 2 054s and 10 054As. A while ago, Richard Fisher did an interview with one of the diesel engine makers that said they expected PLAN to produce about 12 054/As based on the diesel engines they purchased. After that, they expected PLAN to move on to a design that also used gas turbines. From that, I would expect that they stop producing 054A designs after this pair and start producing a modified design that is a little larger after 2 to 3 years. A separate possibility is that they will produce a few more 054As to rotate to Gulf of Aden. Anyhow, here is the new ship. You can see that the 4th 054A from HP (No 548) has come back.


Another interesting part is seeing a new MSA ship beside No 548. From following Chinese Maritime patrol ships, it appears that they are all either Haixun or Haijian. I could be totally off here, but Haixun ships seemed to be for the Chinese Ministry of Transportation and Haijian ships are for the State Oceanographic Administration.

According to the State Oceanic Administration website, that MSA ship should be Haijian-75. It was launched on July 29th and will be delivered to south sea branch in the end of October. It is one of the 4 such 1000-ton class ships that HP shipyard is building for the south sea branch. They are also building 2 1500-ton class ships (Haijian-15 is the first one) and 1 3000-ton class ship (Haijian-50). This is all part of China's effort to increase patrols in the South China Sea (or as other countries see it, an effort to dominate South China Sea).

Some of the ships currently in service:
Haijian-20

Haijian-83

Haijian-27
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Datamaster calibration errors in Alaska

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Image by Getty Images via @daylifeAlaska now joins the ranks of municipalities investigating errors in calculating BAC levels in suspects charged with DUI. As we've discussed in the past, other states include Pennsylvania, Colorado, California, and Indiana.

In Alaska, it recently came to light that the Datamasters used to conduct BAC testing in over 2500 cases over the last few years were calibrated improperly. The specific problem is explained in this Anchorage Daily News article as follows:

The problem involves dry gas tanks, also known as “alco bottles,” used in confirming the accuracy of the DataMaster instruments, which drunken-driving suspects blow into to determine breath-alcohol content. The tanks contain a known sample of alcohol that the instrument measures before and after every test to ensure it is functioning properly.

When the state crime lab prepares the bottles, the alcohol levels are measured 10 times and the results are entered into a spreadsheet, which calculates the average value. Because air pressure can affect the test results, the average value is then adjusted to a standard barometric pressure from what it was on the day the tank was tested.

But back on Feb. 16, 2006, a trainee and an analyst thought the correction factor didn’t appear right and decided to invert the fraction, said Orin Dym, director of the crime lab. And because it was in a spreadsheet that calculated the values automatically, no one noticed until Dec. 8, 2009...

By the time the error was discovered, 48 of the 663 tanks prepared in the years involved had been affected, according to the state. That means 2,465 tests were conducted with equipment that was prepared with the inverted fraction and that had been corrected for the barometric pressure in the wrong direction, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The state concedes that the equipment was tested using flawed quality control standards, but claims that the error didn't affect the actual BAC testing--instead, it allegedly impacted only the quality control checks that accompany each test. According to the State, only 2 DUI cases were affected by the error.

Alaska criminal defense attorneys aren't buying that theory and at least one is already moving forward with challenging his client's DUI conviction.

The Alaska calibration error is just one more example of how tenuous and error-prone the process of measuring blood alcohol levels can be. People's liberty lies in the balance--and in many cases, faulty lab test results or improperly calibrated breath test equipment is the deciding factor.

Visit Americas Top DUI and DWI Attorneys at www.1800dialdui.com or call 1-800-DIAL-DUI to find a DUI OUI DWI Attorney Lawyer Now!

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Honesty. Sometimes it's the best policy.

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Image by edwin.bautista via FlickrFrom "On the Record in Cook County" comes this helpful tip from a DUI defendant:

Tastes not great, less filling?

(From a video exhibit during trial for aggravated DUI.)

Defendant - I had three Gumballhead beers and a shot of Jack Daniels.

Officer - Three what?

Defendant - Gumballhead beers. They're manufactured by Three Floyds Brewing Company. Have you ever had those?

Officer - No.

Defendant - Well they taste terrible. Even my girlfriend thinks so.

*****

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Mitsubishi L200 Triton 2011

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Existem carros cujo estilo foi tão bem feito que parecem capazes de superar uma década sem precisar de nenhum retoque. O melhor indicador para esse tipo de necessidade, no entanto, é o próprio passar do tempo, mas ainda que existam certas regras sobre quais tipos de desenho tendem a durar mais e menos, a Triton realmente ainda mostra fôlego de sobra. Sua linha 2011 recebeu uma mínima mudança de estilo, mas preservou tanto o excelente pacote de equipamentos como as opções de motor, e parte de R$ 101.990.

As mudanças de estilo dessa linha se restringiram à dianteira, que ganhou nova moldura de farois de neblina e alterações nos farois principais e grade. Retoques pontuais que melhoraram um visual já muito caprichado, que fez uma aposta muito feliz nos contornos arredondados: normalmente esse estilo é mais usado nos carros urbanos por trazer ideia de suavidade e certa delicadeza, valores opostos ao que se espera para um modelo off-road. Porém, o que se vê na L200 é um aspecto tão robusto quanto o das rivais Toyota Hilux e Nissan Frontier mas com um enfoque inédito, abusando de contornos de forma e tamanho muito bem-trabalhados que colaboram para causar uma impressão futurista muito boa.

A cabine reflete a atitude do desenho exterior, trazendo um ambiente esportivo mas que não deixa o requinte de lado ao apostar em detalhes como o revestimento em dois tons. A sua novidade mais interessante é uma touchscreen de 7” que comanda o sistema de som multimídia com DVD e GPS. Esses itens só se somam a um interessante pacote que já inclui freios com ABS e EBD, airbag duplo, ar-condicionado, tração 4x4, rodas de 16” e trio elétrico. Suas opções de motor são 3.5 V6 flex, de 200/205 cv e torque de 31,3/32,3 kgfm de torque (gasolina/álcool), enquanto o 3.2 turbodiesel gera 165 cv e 38,1 kgfm, e pode vir com câmbio manual (R$ 114.990) ou automático (R$ 119.900).

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Usage of PLAN Aircraft Carrier

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We see many articles in the West about PLAN's rapid growth and the possibilities of the future Aircraft Carriers. There have been a lot of questions in the west about how China might use the new hardware. If this recent OpEd on Global Times is any indication, the discussion on this has not finished in China either.

In this piece, he started off by saying that China currently does not have a battling US for sea control, nor will it have it in the future. And if US keeps regarding China as its enemy in the Pacific Ocean, then that will bring calamity to the world.

He says that overt usage of Chinese navy in solving regional territorial issues or teaching US a small lesson may bring a stronger sense of national strength in the short run, but would result in anti-Chinese sentiment across the world. It will only end up scaring the neighbors. So, the usage of aircraft carrier must be careful. He also mentions that China should use carriers to strengthen the nation's soft power through indirectly diffusing crisis around the world. China cannot achieve sea supremacy over US in the near future, not should it. It should increase national strength through all avenues. There is no reason for China not to have an aircraft carrier given its position as the only UN P5 nation to not have one. The question is how China can make the world feel more at ease about having carriers.

I think the most important part to note is that I really see no desire in Chinese public or even in the military for worldwide domination. Over the past few years, it is sensing a rapid growth in its national stature, so it is acting more boldly on international issues rather than being withdrawn. China has always claimed South China Sea as part of its sovereignty. It is only voicing these claims more loudly now that it is the world's second largest economy. Like? Usage of PLAN Aircraft Carrier for wallpaper? Shar this image to Usage of PLAN Aircraft Carrier for your friend.

Kia Picanto 2011

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A revolução estilística comandada por Peter Schreyer também afetou ao pequeno Picanto. Antes da nova geração ele recebe um leve face-lift para acompanhar o resto da linha, e acabou mantendo o charme que o caracteriza. E por R$ 34.900 (R$ 39.900 para o automático), ele acaba sendo uma excelente opção frente aos conhecidos Fiat Uno, Chevrolet Celta, Ford Fiesta ou VW Gol.

O desenho não sofreu grandes alterações, na verdade a frente ganhou parachoque e grade novos, e atrás ele ganhou falsas entradas de ar. Seu tamanho compacto contrasta com o extraordinário pacote de itens de série, que inclui ar-condicionado, trio elétrico, direção hidráulica, airbag duplo, sistema de som com MP3 e rodas de liga leve. Tudo isso é empurrado pelo 1.0 de 12 válvulas que produz honestos 64 cv.

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Latest Criminal Defense and DUI Links

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Image by ...-Wink-... via Flickr

Here's a list of recent links from around the criminal defense legal blogosphere that are worth a second look:

• High Breathalyzer Results: Drinking...or Dieting?--DUI Blog
• The problem with (prescription) drugged driving--The Defense Rests
  
• Implied Consent: It Doesn't Matter if You Don't Understand--Pennsylvania DUI Blog
• Know Your Rights When it Comes to Police Stops--TalkLeft
• Are Bad Readings Coming Out Of Minnesota Intoxilyzers?--InjuryBoard Blog Network
  

Visit Americas Top DUI and DWI Attorneys at www.1800dialdui.com or call 1-800-DIAL-DUI to find a DUI OUI DWI Attorney Lawyer Now!

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Operating a Stroller While Intoxicated?

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These days, it seems you're at risk of getting stopped for DUI as long as you're operating anything with wheels--Russian tankers, Barbie cars, motorized lounging chairs, golf carts--and now a stroller.

As My Fox Boston reports in this article, a Boston father was stopped for operating a stroller while intoxicated:

Police said 24-year-old Steven Melendez appeared to be intoxicated while pushing the stroller near his home. The officer said he showed the common signs of being drunk: glassy, bloodshot eyes; slurred speech, unsteady balance and there was a strong alcohol odor coming from him. He also wasn’t able to stand without leaning on the stroller, the officer said.

It appears that the arresting officers wisely chose not to charge Melendez with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, since it's difficult to envision any circumstance where a stroller could be considered a "motor vehicle".

Instead, he was charged him with public drunkenness and endangering children--also somewhat questionable charges under the circumstances.

Visit Americas Top DUI and DWI Attorneys at www.1800dialdui.com or call 1-800-DIAL-DUI to find a DUI OUI DWI Attorney Lawyer Now!

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Latest F-22P news

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I will first start off by posting some recent pictures of F-22P. The first two are pictures of 253 (the 3rd unit of F-22P) in sea trials. And the last picture is of the 4th unit of F-22P that is currently under construction in Karachi.




And I also have seen a recent article that interviewed Captain Mirza Foad Amin Baig, who is the Commanding Officer of PNS Zulfiqar. Since I'm not sure about whether I'm allowed to post the article on here, I will just give a detailed summary in points:

• The First F-22P (PNS Zulfiqar No. 251) was commissioned on 30th July 2009. It arrived in Karachi on 13 September and was inducted into the PN fleet on 19 September.
  
• They tested the sensors + weapons of 251, including successful firing of C-802
  
• F-22P is 3,144 tonnes and 123.4 m long -> larger than what we thought and larger than Jiangwei class
  
• ASuW uses 8 C-802 missiles, Z-9EC for OTH targeting and Chinese version of AK-176M main gun
  
• ASW consists of ET-52C 324mm torpedo tubes, RDC-32 rocket launchers and Echo Type 5 hull mounted sonar
  
• Close in air defense with FM-90N SAM, AK-176M + 2 export version of Type 730 CIWS
  
• Combat system is based on Chinese ZKJ-3C
  
• EW suite uses Chinese RWD-8 intercept system and a NJ8I-3 jammer
  
• Non-FCR Sensors include a SUR-17 air-surveillence radar, an SR-60 air/surface search radar and a Kelvin-Hughes 2007 navigation radar
  
• Uses CODAD propulsion with two Tognum MTU 12V 1163 TB 83 diesel engines
  
• Top speed of 28+ knots + range of 6000+ nm at 18 knots
  
• Core crew is 188 with capacity for 212
  

From all report, it looks like PN is quite satisfied with the F-22Ps thus far. I have not kept up with PN current effort in buying an OHP. Last I heard, they were in the process of getting one. I do believe there have already been much talk regarding to PN buying 4 more frigates of China. The only question is what will be on that ship. Like? Latest F-22P news for wallpaper? Shar this image to Latest F-22P news for your friend.

August 2010 calendar

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Citroën C4 Exclusive Sport

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E 2011 acaba de chegar para a linha do C4. O hatchback médio não traz novidades quanto ao visual, mesmo porque suas belas linhas dispensarão isso por um bom tempo, mas ganhou a versão nova, que parte de R$ 60.900.

Não existem quaisquer adereços estéticos seja por dentro ou por fora; o grande atrativo da nova versão está mesmo na linha de equipamentos. De série, a versão traz faróis de xenon direcionais, controles de tração e estabilidade, e sensores de estacionamento dianteiros e traseiros. Tudo isso sempre empurrado pelo motor 2.0 16v flex, de 143/151 cv, mas que pode vir equipado com câmbio manual ou automático.

As outras novidades são para as outras versões do C4. A básica GLX 1.6 16v agora traz rodas de liga leve, faróis de neblina e o perfume da cabine – ícone dos C4 – como itens de série. Enquanto isso, a intermediária GLX 2.0 16v passa a ser a top, já que custa R$ 62 mil e só vem com câmbio automático. Seus novos itens são ar-condicionado dual zone e sensores de chuva e crepuscular, entre outros.

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"If you're drunk, take a cab" redux

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We've all heard the familiar refrain, "If you're drunk, don't drive, take a taxi." Seems like good advice, no?

Well, maybe not. According to this article from The Australian, an inebriated Australian bloke too that advice a bit too literally:

The Cairns Post said the 21-year-old man allegedly stole the taxi from the central business district of Cooktown, North Queensland about 6pm (local time) on Friday.

Police allegedly found the driver, who was unlicensed, at home where he recorded a blood alcohol level of .209 per cent - four times the legal limit.

Yep, he followed the sage advice and took the taxi--can't blame him, right?

The moral of this story seems to be that the next time you offer advice to one of your drunken friends, make sure to enunciate, speak slowly and use words that are free of misinterpretation, lest you end up bearing some responsibility for unknowingly encouraging your friend to go on a drunken crime spree.

Visit Americas Top DUI and DWI Attorneys at www.1800dialdui.com or call 1-800-DIAL-DUI to find a DUI OUI DWI Attorney Lawyer Now!

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Access to Computer Data is Imperative when Defending DUI Cases

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A recent New York Law Journal article discussed the important issue of defense access to computer data in "Database Access and the Defense." In it, the author, Ken Strutin asserts that evidence obtained from computer profiling and databases should be available to the defense and requires extensive judicial scrutiny before it reaches a jury.

In support of his argument, he argues that a lot of computer-based data is less reliable than it seems, often including coding errors, and yet jurors are typically more likely to assume that this "scientific" data is fool proof.

Examples of computer and scientific data that have been called into question include: 1) the source code for breathalyzers 2) poorly calibrated breathalyzer equipment 3) fingerprint databases, such as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System 4) DNA databases and 5) Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) databases.

The importance of access to these databases during pre-trial discovery is imperative in order for criminal defense attorneys to mount a strong defense on behalf of their clients. The reason for this is simple: errors have been found, sometimes long after the accused has been imprisoned.

Or, as aptly explained in the article:

"Certainty" is the bell that cannot be unrung, which is why in the light of re-evaluated forensic matching techniques, expert conclusions claiming "scientific certainty" are being carefully scrutinized.[FOOTNOTE 10]

Evidence drawn from computer profiling and database analyses deserves a long, hard look before reaching a jury. Legislatures and courts ought to uniformly recognize the essential right of the accused to contest computer-based identification or to access these resources to prepare a defense.

Visit Americas Top DUI and DWI Attorneys at www.1800dialdui.com or call 1-800-DIAL-DUI to find a DUI OUI DWI Attorney Lawyer Now!

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