When an individual is stopped by a law enforcement official on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may be asked to submit to a breathalyzer test in order to determine their blood alcohol content (BAC). Unfortunately, a number of different factors can contribute to inaccuracies in the results of a breathalyzer analysis, leading to innocent individuals being arrested for a serious criminal offense and forced to be subjected to ignition interlock devices for long periods of time.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI based on the results of a breathalyzer test, you should seek effective legal representation immediately in order to ensure that your rights and interests are given the fullest protection under the law. Contact us at Arizona DUI lawyer today to speak with an experienced legal professional and learn more about your rights under the law.
Sources of Inaccuracy
Breathalyzer machines don’t directly measure BAC. Instead, they measure the alcohol content of a person’s breath, which is then converted into an estimate of BAC based on the machine’s conversion factor. This is just one issue with using breathalyzer results as conclusive evidence that a person’s BAC was above the legal limit. Other issues include:
- Improper machine calibration
- Sensitivity to ambient temperature
- Incorrect conversion factors
- Identifying non-alcoholic substances as alcohol
These are just some of the ways in which breathalyzers may falsely identify an individual as having driven drunk.
If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, be wise and discuss the details of your case with a qualified AZ DUI attorney.