Atlanta DUI Lawyer
All About Breathalyzer Tests
If you have been charged with DUI in Atlanta, chances are you took a breathalyzer test. Breathalyzer tests measure the amount of alcohol in the air in a person’s lungs. If a breathalyzer test shows a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) to be at or above the legal limit of .08 percent, they can be charged with DUI. If you have taken a breathalyzer test that showed your BAC to be .08 or higher, it is important for you not lose hope. At the law firm of Ross & Pines, LLC, our attorneys have witnessed the problems that can occur with breathalyzer tests, and these problems often lead to inaccurate BAC readings. You need an Atlanta DUI attorney from our firm to carefully examine your breathalyzer test to determine if the results are actually accurate.
Breathalyzer tests have been thoroughly researched, and this research has indicated that breath tests vary at least 15% from the actual blood alcohol concentration. At least 23% (about one out of every four people) of all individuals tested will have a BAC reading higher than their actual BAC. For this reason, it is essential that a person not be convicted based strictly upon the results of a breathalyzer test.
What Can Go Wrong with a Breathalyzer Test?
There are many things that can lead to an inflated BAC reading from a breathalyzer test, and these machines must be used properly and have to be well maintained, otherwise the results could be inaccurate. Some common causes of inaccurate breathalyzer tests are:
- Outdoor air quality
- Machine is not calibrated properly
- The air sample obtained from the lungs is not adequate
- Heath conditions like asthma or emphysema
- The testing equipment is not operated properly
- Radio frequency interference
- Eating, drinking, smoking, burping, or regurgitating within 15 minutes prior to taking the test
For more information about breathalyzer tests and how they can affect your case, contact an Atlanta DUI Attorney at Ross & Pines, LLC!