Source: http://duilawyerlosangeles.com/for-attorneys/memo-of-law-in-support-of-ec403/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 10:42:27+00:00

Document:
THE RELIABILITY OF A CHEMICAL TEST RESULT IS A MATTER OF RELEVANCE The Williams’ court noted that foundational facts “will insure that the tests retain their reliability and thus their relevance and admissibility…” The Williams’ court reasoned that “… admissibility depends on the reliability and consequent relevance of the evidence…” Thus, the California Supreme Court held that chemical test results must be reliable to be admitted or else they are not relevant.
EVIDENCE CODE §403(a) REQUIRES THE PROPONENT TO PRODUCE “SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE” AS TO THE PRELIMINARY FACTS OR THE EVIDENCE IS INADMISSIBLE E.C. §403 determines foundation and other preliminary facts where relevancy is disputed. Under §403(a) “the proponent of proffered evidence has the burden of producing evidence as to the existence of the preliminary fact and the proffered evidence is inadmissible unless the court finds that there is evidence sufficient to sustain a finding of the existence of the preliminary fact, when the relevance of the proffered evidence depends on the existence of the preliminary fact. A proffered chemical test result is inadmissible unless there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the test was properly administered, the personnel involved in the test were qualified, and that the testing device was in proper working order and accurate.
The relevance of the test results depends on the existence of proof of preliminary facts, i.e. that correct scientific procedures were followed. The defendant requests special jury instruction #1, which mirrors the language E.C. 403(c) and is tailored to the evidence in this case. Special instruction #1 informs the jury that it must determine whether correct scientific procedures (preliminary facts) have been proved and that the jury must “disregard the proffered evidence unless …” it finds that those foundational elements have been proved. The accuracy of the blood test result is a matter of relevance per Williams, supra, and Evid.C. §403(3) requires that the jury must be instructed as [per special #1] that it “shall disregard” the blood test results if the prosecution did not prove that correct procedures were followed.
The defense has introduced evidence tends to prove the nonexistence of the presumed facts, i.e. that the defendant was a .08% or higher at the time of driving. Evid. C. §607 requires that the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the basic facts exist and may find the presumed fact (permissive inference) only if the jury is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that that presumed fact has been proven.
“…the court should instruct the jury that it may find that the presumed fact exists only if: • The jury is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that certain specified facts (the basic facts giving rise to the presumption) exist; and • The jury is convinced, beyond a reasonable doubt, from a consideration of all the evidence in the case, that the specified fact (the presumed fact) exists.
The preliminary facts (“correct scientific procedures”) operate to establish presumptively facts essential to the defendant’s guilt, and thus the preliminary facts must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Evid. C. 607. See also P.C. §1096: Presumption of Innocence, right to an acquittal, and burden of proof beyond a Reasonable Doubt in a criminal case.
A mandatory presumption violates a defendant’s due process rights because it would require the defendant to produce some evidence to raise a reasonable doubt, and thus would be construed as lightening the prosecution’s burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable about. In re Winship (1970) 397 US 358; Ulster County Court v. Allen (1979) 442 US 140; Sandstrom v. Montana (1979) 442 US 510. Any mandatory presumption lightening the prosecution’s burden of proof in every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt is invalid under those cases.
As requested by the defense, and as required by Evid. C. 403(c) and case law, the court must give special instruction #1 which explains the law and informs the jury that the People must prove the foundational facts or the jury must disregard the chemical test result. The chemical test result is critical evidence and involves presumptions. To not instruct as requested in special #1 would violate Evid. C. §403(c), Due Process of law, and the Right to a Fair Trial.
1 Adams is cited by the People [without thorough analysis] that “failure to comply with Title 17 goes to the weight, not admissibility.” True, if a minor defect of Title 17 that does not go to the accuracy of the results. Not true if the failure to follow correct scientific procedures means the results are not proved accurate. If so, the test results are not accurate, they are not relevant.
2 As demonstrated below in IV, in a criminal case the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt [as opposed to a preponderance of the evidence].

References: §403
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 §607
 §1096
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