Maintenance, training and proper operation are the keys to the proper use of a breathalyzer. If these things are not done, the machine could deliver a false reading, which then results in an improper citation and arrest.
The breathalyzer is the most commonly used device to determine if a person is legally intoxicated. It’s a machine that measures the alcohol content in exhaled breath.
A Minneapolis DWI lawyer will be aware of the problems associated with the breathalyzer. The DUI attorney understands what it takes to maintain these machines and how a proper test should be administered.
The National Motorists Association reports the machines are unreliable. “The whole process appears very scientific, very equitable, and very fair. The problem is that the process is not any of these things. It is not scientific nor does it rely on existing and accepted science,” the website says.
The machine estimates blood alcohol content (BAC) from exhaled breath. If you rinse your mouth with an alcohol-based mouthwash and then take a breathalyzer test, it will show a high presence of alcohol. Repeat the test 10 minutes later and it will show no alcohol. Other substances can cause a false reading too. The only true and accurate way to check BAC is with a blood test.
Improper use of the breathalyzer is just one of the defense strategies a DUI attorney will bring to the courtroom to contest such charges. If you’ve been charged with DUI, DWI or BUI (Boating Under the Influence), contact us to discuss your case and how you can contest the charges.