With the holiday season in full swing, the use of breathalyzers at DUI checkpoints and other traffic stops designed to nab impaired drivers will be used with great frequency. Yet, these breathalyzers are notoriously inaccurate. These inaccuracies are not only due to ineffective or sloppy administration.
By design, the breathalyzer is designed to attempt to measure the presence of chemicals that are found in alcohol. However, there's a inherent problem in this type of measurement. First of all, the breathalyzer can only provide an estimated result. Secondly, many other chemicals present in breath can trigger an elevated reading. Diabetics, those on Atkins type diets, smokers, and those who've recently been exposed to gasoline may register higher measurements due to factors that have nothing to do with alcohol. Those who suffer from acid reflux or regurgitation will also register a falsely elevated measurement. The cases have become so notorious that some states refuse to admit breathalyzer test results as part of the prosecutor's case.
According to expert Dr. David Hanson, the human breath can contain over 100 chemical compounds at any one point and of those 70 to 80% of them mimic the chemical structure of alcohol. According to Dr. Hanson, false positive breathalyzer readings can occur for a myriad of reasons, not merely the presence of alcohol.
That's why a blood alcohol test is a more accurate measure of BAC. If you're stopped and have submitted to a breathalyzer, don't assume the police have the evidence necessary for a DUI conviction. A good DUI lawyer can fight these results and may be able to suppress that evidence in your case.
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