An Unusually High Cocaine Blood Concentration in an Impaired Driving Investigation

Cocaine is an illicit drug frequently encountered by forensic practitioners in driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) casework. Whole blood collected from a suspected drugged driver was found to contain 3.000 mg/L cocaine, 1.600 mg/L benzoylecgonine, and 0.260 mg/L methamphetamine. The high concentration of cocaine, while common in overdose death investigations, is unusual for an impaired driving case. Information from the officer revealed that the motorist swallowed cocaine during the traffic stop. Although a cocaine DUID charge could not be pursued, the blood methamphetamine concentration exceeded the State of Nevada “per se” limit for operating a motor vehicle. The motorist was successfully prosecuted for DUID based on his admission of using methamphetamine prior to driving and the blood methamphetamine result. This case highlights the importance of considering case history when interpreting laboratory results and the application of jurisdictional statutes as an approach to prosecuting suspected drug‐impaired drivers.     

Postmortem Analysis of Electrogram Records from an Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator (ICD) in the Reconstruction of a Road Traffic Accident

The case of a 69‐year‐old man, equipped with an ICD and suffering from several chronic cardiac diseases, who died in a car accident, was presented. We analyzed electrogram records from the ICD explanted from the body during the autopsy, which showed that the driver had suffered from malignant ventricular arrhythmia—ventricular fibrillation (VF). A thorough analysis of the details of the accident, as well as the timing of VF and the rhythm observed after the discharge of the ICD showed that the direct cause of the accident was the episode of arrhythmia resulting in a loss of consciousness. Therefore, the presented case illustrates the usefulness of postmortem analysis of electrogram records from ICDs in the reconstruction of road traffic accidents. In such cases, if the victims are implanted with ICDs, it should be a routine procedure performed by forensic pathologists.     

Drug Recognition Evaluation and Chemical Confirmation of a 25C‐NBOMe‐Impaired Driver

This case report details an individual arrested for drug‐impaired driving after leaving the scene of multiple motor vehicle collisions and evading police. The driver was examined by a drug recognition expert and failed the drug recognition evaluation. The driver admitted to using cocaine, marijuana, an antidepressant medication and “N‐bomb,” a novel psychoactive substance that possesses hallucinogenic properties. Toxicological analyses at the Centre of Forensic Sciences’ Toronto laboratory revealed only the substance 2‐[4‐chloro‐2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl]‐N‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine (25C‐NBOMe) in the accused's urine. This is the first report in which 25C‐NBOMe was identified through DRE and toxicological analyses in a drug‐impaired driver.     

生命的守护还是疏离——评醉驾入刑的情节

鉴于醉酒驾驶机动车发生交通意外、危害公共安全的现象日益严重,《刑法修正案（八）》适时增设了危险驾驶罪,将醉酒驾驶行为纳入刑法调整范围。但是,单从《刑法修正案（八）》第22条条文本身以及立法原意来看,醉驾入刑似乎并不需要考虑情节问题。最高人民法院、最高人民检察院和公安部在对待此问题上的看法也不相一致。为此,有必要从理论上对该问题进行梳理、论证,以树立“情节”在醉驾入刑中的核心地位。     

危险驾驶罪立法解读

《中华人民共和国刑法修正案（八）》中增设了危险驾驶罪,这主要是为了应对风险社会的挑战而在刑法上做出的调整,以加强对公共交通安全的保护。本罪在行为上包括竞驰型和醉酒型两种危险驾驶行为,主观上为故意,在性质上属于危险犯。对本罪的认定要注意与交通肇事罪和以危险方法危害公共安全罪的区别。此外,本罪的立法仍然存在不完善之处,如行为方式范围较窄,入罪门槛过低,资格刑缺失等,有必要在今后的立法中进一步完善。     

中国创新型经济驱动力分析及运作模式构建

创新型经济是中国现阶段经济转型的主要方向,创新是这一经济模式的主要驱动力。该文在追溯创新型经济理论起源的基础上给出创新型经济的概念及特征,并分析了创新型经济的驱动力,构建了创新型经济发展的运作模式。     

亚文化与廉政文化的冲突及其消解

廉政文化建设中如何对待亚文化,是一个值得研究的课题。干部的生活圈、社交圈、工作圈是当前亚文化集结聚合的三个主要领域。在廉政建设中,它从深层次制约和支配个体的行为和社会活动,对廉政文化或者起着某种补充、强化作用,或者起着干扰甚至消解作用。调和亚文化与廉政文化之间的冲突,东西方文化有着各自不同的路径,但“和而不同”是应遵循的一条重要原则。     

危险驾驶罪若干问题探析——对《刑法修正案(八)》第22条的解读与展望

《刑法修正案(八)》第22条规定的危险驾驶罪在性质上属于抽象危险犯,该罪的主观方面是故意,客观方面的行为包括追逐竞驶和醉酒驾驶。危险驾驶行为的认定不仅涉及文义解释,还涉及到"情节恶劣"和醉酒状态的认定问题。作为抽象危险犯,该罪也可能存在预备、未遂和中止形态,但从刑法的谦抑性考虑,对其预备、未遂和中止形态应不予刑事处罚。该罪不仅存在共同犯罪问题,还与交通肇事罪和以危险方法危害公共安全罪相关,在司法实践中需予以仔细分析。     

浅谈醉酒驾车致人死亡的主观罪过形式——以原因自由行为理论为视角

《刑法修正案》（八）关于危险驾驶的规定,对于严厉打击以飙车、醉驾为代表的危险驾驶行为,具有积极的作用。但在具体实践中却面临着认定故意与过失的困境、坚守罪刑法定与满足民众情感的困境。醉酒驾车致人死亡的主观罪过形式的判定应当围绕行为人对危害结果的态度,运用＂知＂、＂欲＂构造分析判断。司法实践中,凡是对危害结果的发生持＂无欲＂态度的犯罪都应认定为过失犯罪,不能以认识因素的明知,否认对危害结果的排斥。     

浅议飙车行为的入罪条件——以刑法修正案（八）为视角

刑法修正案（八）新设立了危险驾驶罪,对在道路上驾驶机动车追逐竞驶且情节恶劣的行为,也即情节恶劣的飙车行为依法追究刑事责任。判断对具体＂飙车＂行为应否追究刑事责任,取决于其是否同时具备危险驾驶罪的四个犯罪构成要件。