The Breathalyzer Test and Accuracy

Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about BAC - Blood Alcohol Concentration and other DUI topics.

Can I get a false positive from a police breath test?

The Breathalyzer Test and Accuracy

One of the main reasons a good DUI lawyer will contest the results of a breathalyzer test in court is because there are many things that can cause a false positive when breathing into the machine. For example, if you are pulled over and given a breath test to check your blood alcohol level after having brushed your teeth, you could very well give a false reading.

If your DUI lawyer is going to contest the breath test in court, try to remember exactly what you ate, drank, gargled with, etc. before the test. Remember that some medications such as oral contraception also can call into question your test results. Tell your lawyer all this information for maximum ammunition in court!

   

Comments

9/19/2007 6:40:09 AM
Andy said:

This is total BS and it is obvious a defense lawyer wrote this comment. Present day breath test instruments DO NOT measure tooth paste as being ALCOHOL!! Just another scam by lawyers straying from the "facts" to keep IMPAIRED drivers ON our roadways!!!!!


1/16/2008 12:38:03 PM
DKC said:

FYI - I admit to doing a stupid thing over 2 years ago and driving while drinking; in my state of PA I was mandated to have an intoxalok iinstalled on my car, which is ignition breathlizer that must be blown into to start, and on long trips will call for a rolling re-test. I made the mistake of sucking on hard camdy during a recent 3 hour trip and it moved from green to caution; thinking I should eat something, I got a sports drink and chips; well, that pushed me into an ignition lock out. It seems breathlizers rely to some extent on the sugar content of your stomach breath also, so eating mints or candy does in fact incerase your changes of failing a test, as does drinking huge amounts of soda; the best bet is don't drink and drive, because what they say is true, you cannot afford it


1/16/2008 12:38:05 PM
DKC said:

FYI - I admit to doing a stupid thing over 2 years ago and driving while drinking; in my state of PA I was mandated to have an intoxalok iinstalled on my car, which is ignition breathlizer that must be blown into to start, and on long trips will call for a rolling re-test. I made the mistake of sucking on hard camdy during a recent 3 hour trip and it moved from green to caution; thinking I should eat something, I got a sports drink and chips; well, that pushed me into an ignition lock out. It seems breathlizers rely to some extent on the sugar content of your stomach breath also, so eating mints or candy does in fact incerase your changes of failing a test, as does drinking huge amounts of soda; the best bet is don't drink and drive, because what they say is true, you cannot afford it




Name:


URL: (optional)


Comment:


Not finding the advice and tips you need on this DUI Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!


Guru Spotlight
Alexis Niki