10 Important Things You Need To Know About Breathalyzers
February 28, 2007
1. Breathalyzers are legal to own
Personal alcohol breathalyzers are small enough to keep in your pocket, purse, or on your keychain. They are also widely available from a number of online and normal stores. With the easy availability of breathalyzer devices, one of the most common questions is whether they are legal. The answer is that breathalyzers are legal in every state.
2. Breathalyzers work by gauging the amount of alcohol on your breath
Alcohol is absored into the bloodstream and passes through the blood in the lungs. As it passes through the lungs some of it is absorbed into the air sacs and appears on your breath as you exhale. A digital breathalyzer tests the blood alcohol content (BAC) on your breath as you blow into it. The results of this breath test is then displayed on a digital interface.
3. There are different types of breathalyzers
The are a couple different types of breathalyzer devices, although they all work on the same principle of measuring blood alcohol content by exhaling into it. The three most common devices are the breathalyzer, intoxilyzer, and alcosensor. Under the breathazlyer family, there are personal handheld digital breathalyzers, keychain breathalyzers, breathalyzer machines (which are usually larger and mounted on a wall and may be coin operated), and police breathalyzers.
4. Using a personal digital breathalyzer is not guaranteed to save you from a DUI
Although using a personal digital breathalyzer may help you in determining what your current blood alcohol content is, it is ultimately up to you to determine if you feel like you can drive without impairment. Check with state laws to determine legal drinking and driving limits, which is .08 in most states. Also be aware that you can still end up being charged with a DUI if you are under this limit, if the cop decides you are driving under the influence or while intoxicated. The readout on your breathalyzer will not hold up in court; it is the official reading of the police breathalyzer and the descretion of the cop that will.
5. Personal breathalyzers are accurate but will not stand up in court
As was stated in the previous fact, the results from your personal breathalyzer test will not stand up in court. Although breathalyzers are usually certified to be accurate, accuracy can degrade over time, and the courts can not assume your breathalyzer was officially accurate at the time of the test. Do not assume that your breathalyzer test will guarantee you are legally able to drive.
6. The police breathalyzer is the final word
If you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving, you will go through a number of road side tests and, most likely, two breathalyzer tests. Police usually use the same breathalyzers that are available for purchase by consumer when giving road side breathalyzer tests. If you fail this first breathalyzer breath test and end up being taken to jail, you will take one more breathalyzer test from a breathalyzer machine and this will be the final results that will stand up in court. This second breathalyzer test is checked daily for accuracy by the police and is considered to be the official legal results of your blood alcohol content.
7. The accuracy of police and consumer breathalyzers is usually comparable
For road side tests, police generally use the same breathalyzers that are available for consumer purchase. The most commonly used are the AlcoHawk line of breathalyzers. In a comparison with your personal breathalyzer, the difference between your breathalyzer results and the polices’ results will usually be quite close if both are calibrated correctly. The official police breathalyzer, which is a machine at the station, will also be quite close to these results.
8. There is no blood alcohol content level at which it is safe to drive
Although most states have a legal Blood Alcholol Content limit of .08 to legally drive, there is no safe level at which it is safe to drive. Never assume it is safe to drive if you have been drinking, no matter what your breathalyzer test may say.
9. Breathalyzers need to be calibrated annually
Continuous use of any breathalyzers causes them to slowly lose thier accuracy. It is reccommended that digital breathalyzers be recalibrated at least once a year. This can usually be done at the place you purchased a breathalyzer.
10. Look for “DOT Approved” or “DOT Certified” breathalyzers
“DOT Approved” and “DOT Certified” breathalyzers mean the Department of Transportation has tested these brands and found them provide accurate results. The Alcohawk series of breathalyzers fall under this label. Also check out LifeLoc digital breathalyzers, as they are approved as well.
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