How accurate can a breathalyzer really be?

Question

About a week ago, I was at a friends house were drinking was occurring, I didnt really feel like drinking to get wasted, but I had one beer just to kick back with, and thats all I had and I had every intention on staying where I was at, about 15-20 minutes after I had the beer, my mother called me to tell me that my sister was going into labor and I needed to get to the hospital, but I had to take my friend home first. Well I got pulled over, because my right taillight was out, and the officer said he could smell alcohol, so I agreed to a Breathalyzer not knowing that one beer could have made a huge difference, well I blew a .08, how I have no idea. I persisted to tell him I was not drunk, because I wasn't, not even close to being drunk. he gave the sobriety tests and I passed them and the officer even said I didnt seem drunk. Im 110lbs and I barely drink, nor have I ate all day prior to getting pulled over. so how accurate could this be? It doesnt seem right.

Answer 1

It's probably because of you small size. Get a good lawyer, you will need one. Sorry.

Answer 2

really really accurate...I feel bad for buddy who has one of those things in his car he's gotta blow in just to start it up and then periodically blow in...I say I feel bad because he can't even start his car the next day...he doesn't drink and drive when he goes out obiviously but it sucks when he can't even drive his car until the next day in the afternoon...so he's gotta do the math when he goes out...1 beer takes 1 hour to get out of your system.

Answer 3

its suppose to be very accurate, maybe its just because you're tinyyyy. but i agree, that is a little ridiculous.

so what happened? did eh let you go.

Answer 4

The tests are supposed to be accurate, however...they measure the alcohol content in your lungs as opposed to what's in your blood stream.

A lawyer in my area is contesting the accuracy of it to our State's Supreme Court right now. Apparently, some studies have been conducted and they show that the BLOOD/alcohol amounts are different than the lung/alcohol tests (when tests are conducted on the same person). On top of that, he is arguing that the lung test skews the "BAC" number by making it seem like the person is more impaired than what they are as alcohol lingers in the lungs longer.

(I hope that made sense).

So while you were feeling just fine with only one beer, the breathalyzer very well might say .08 even though you were not *really* impaired.

Cheers!

Answer 5

do you have a dental bridge? a dental bridge will trap alcohol in your mouth and cause you to blow a higher level.

Answer 6

it supose to b very accurate....mayb u got an old busted one

Answer 7

I don't trust these things. Some people that have not had a drink in weeks then have the test have been know to fail it. Some of them are faulty. You then get taken to the Station to have another test by a more accurate machine and this will then tell you the truth.

Answer 8

they are very accurate unless they are broken.

say if a cop stops you and you do the test... the number that comes up is actually lower then your BAC because if you are over the limit and they have to take you to the presinct you cant sober up by the time they get there ... so it reads lower...

your BAC depends on how fast you drink, age, weight, tollerance... what you drank... how much etc etc

Answer 9

enough to hold up in court, but they are supposed to re test you at the station, and that is the test they use to charge you. if you are telling the truth, it would seem impossible that you would have had that high of a BAC.

Answer 10

I just wanted to say years ago, way back when I was 12 my Uncle a cop came over and I tried his breathalizer and I blew a .08. We were al amazed I tried it several times. I had never had a drink in my life but had just brushed my teeth and gargled.  So.....I dont trust them.  I know technology has changed but I dont trust then and my uncle still says to this day that its not an accurate device.

I would get a good lawyer.