Breathalyzers are used in many DUI cases to help the police determine what a suspect's BAC was at the time of arrest. These are small little boxes that measure the alcoholic content in a person's breath when they breathe in and out. While breathalyzers can be a helpful tool for police officers, they aren't always entirely accurate. There are a variety of different factors that can influence a breathalyzer test and render a false positive for an individual.
If you are convicted of a DUI based on your breathalyzer test, then it may stay on your criminal record for the rest of your life. Offenses can also go on your driving record, which potential employees can access when you apply for a job. If you apply for any sort of position that involves driving, the DUI on your record may severely affect your ability to keep the job. Also, your insurance agency will take note of the DUI, and will raise your insurance rates as a result. In some cases, you may also deal with punishments for years after the arrest. These include ignition interlock devices and probation, or jail time and expensive fines that will take you years to repay.
That is why it is prudent to dispute any breathalyzer test results that you believe could be inaccurate. Sometimes, police are too hasty in taking breath samples, and will not operate the machine according to protocol. Breathalyzers are designed to estimate the amount of alcohol that is in a person's blood, not to give an exact definition. The alcohol that is found in drinks is called ethyl alcohol and is a part of a methyl group of compounds. Many other compounds are part of the methyl group as well, and if the breathalyzer detects multiple methyl compounds it can raise a BAC reading to an incorrect level.
Breathalyzers work by using a ratio of 2,100:1 to convert breath alcohol into blood alcohol. This ration can actually be anywhere from 1,900:1 to 2,400:1 depending on the person. Also, the ratio can fluctuate over time so that it may not be accurate at all. Individuals that have diabetes or hypoglycemia can often produce false BAC readings as well. This is because both of these illnesses cause the patient to produce significant amounts of acetone.
This is a compound that breathalyzers can confuse for ethyl alcohol, and this can influence the reading. If you have one of these medical conditions and are charged with a DUI, you should certainly get your doctor's records and prove that your medical condition could have contributed to your false reading.
In addition to this, fumes from paint, rubber cement, cleaning fluids, glue and gasoline can all influence your readings as well. If you have recently been painting, or if you were cleaning or are at a gas station at the time that you are tested, all of these different chemicals can severely affect the reading. In addition, if you have blood or vomit in your mouth at the time that you take the breathalyzer test, this will affect your reading. Sometimes, a person may start to vomit, or suffer digestive issues at the moment that they are blowing into the breathalyzer.
Some machines may read differently if there is an electrical interference. Also, if there is smoke in the air or chemical's in a smoker's lungs, these can influence the reading significantly. Police officers need to maintain their devices or else they can start to produce false readings. It is important for DUI defense attorneys to inspect the breathalyzer used to ensure that it was a safe and well-working tool.
Also, if a person has just been doing a physical activity and is breathing heavily, or if the suspect is hyperventilating out of fear, both of these actions will affect the breathalyzer test. If you want more information about DUI defense and breathalyzer tests, hire a local DUI attorney right away to assist you in your case!