Atlanta, Georgia DUI Breathalyzer


Atlanta, Georgia DUI Breathalyzer
Two types of “breathalyzer” tests can be given during the course of a driving under the influence (DUI) arrest: a roadside test and an evidentiary test. This can cause some problems, as many people confuse one with the other. If you have been arrested after taking an Atlanta, Georgia DUI breathalyzer test, you should speak with a defense lawyer who can investigate the circumstances surrounding your test.

In almost half of all drunk-driving cases, the police officer will ask the driver to blow into a handheld tester while his or her vehicle is pulled over on the side of the road. Although most people think assume this is the official breathalyzer, a roadside test is entirely voluntary, which means you face no consequences if you refuse to take it. Unfortunately, some officers fail to tell drivers about this and use the results to establish probable cause for a DUI arrest.

The evidentiary test, on the other hand, is typically administered at the police station or in a mobile breath alcohol test unit vehicle. It is this test that provides the official results that can be used as evidence against you in a drunk-driving case. What’s more, while you can refuse to take the evidentiary breathalyzer, you may still be arrested and face a 12-month driver’s license suspension if you do so—and that’s assuming it’s your first offense.

The Atlanta, Georgia DUI breathalyzer works by measuring the alcohol in your breath in order to calculate the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. If your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08% or more, you will be charged with DUI. However, the limit for underage drivers and commercial vehicle operators is much lower—.02% and .04% respectively.

One of the problems with the DUI breathalyzer is that it assumes everyone has a 1:2100 breath-to-blood ratio. Therefore, if a person’s partition ratio differs, the results of the breathalyzer will be inaccurate—and this can ratio can be impacted by a variety of factors. As a result, even a slightly elevated temperature could lead to a higher BAC reading.

Breathalyzers are supposed to measure the deep lung air, though they may be easily tricked by mouth alcohol. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypoglycemia can lead to ketosis, which produces acetone. If the machine mistakes the acetone for alcohol (as they’re known to do), your results could also be falsely inflated.

The only way to fight a DUI after failing the Atlanta, Georgia DUI breathalyzer is to hire a lawyer who understands how the machine works. Attorney Lee Webb has undergone intensive training on the Intoxilyzer 5000, the breathalyzer used by Atlanta law enforcement agents. Thanks to this knowledge, he has helped many clients win their cases or have their charges reduced.

Please schedule an appointment for a free DUI case evaluation today by submitting your information via our online contact form.