Generally, breathalyzers are accurate when estimating blood alcohol concentration (BAC). However, errors can occur, resulting in incorrect readings. If you have been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, and you believe there was an error with your breathalyzer readings, you should learn more about what happened.
Here are four factors that can affect a breathalyzer’s accuracy:
Human error
A law enforcement officer should not conduct a breath test too soon after drinking. This is because the device may measure alcohol in the mouth from recent drinks or burps, resulting in a higher reading.
Pennsylvania requires officers to wait at least 20 consecutive minutes before the initial breath test. This gives the body time to metabolize alcohol, and in turn, the device will only measure lung air. During the wait, an officer should observe the person to be tested, ensuring they don’t consume any alcoholic beverages or other fluids, regurgitate, vomit, eat or smoke.
A test that does not follow the state’s breath procedures or the manufacturer’s instructions is likely to have errors.
Poor calibration
Breathalyzers are regularly calibrated to maintain accuracy and reliability. A device that is not calibrated or poorly calibrated can lead to inaccurate results. Obtaining maintenance or calibration records can help you establish whether or not the device used to measure your BAC was properly calibrated.
Foreign substances
Most breathalyzers, particularly older models, can be triggered by substances in the mouth that contain alcohol, such as mouthwash, or substances that can be mistaken for ethanol, such as acetone produced during ketosis in people on very low-carb diets or individuals with poorly controlled diabetes.
Environmental factors
Temperature, humidity, altitude and air quality (VOCs) can affect a breathalyzer’s readings. For instance, extreme heat or cold can affect the sensor’s sensitivity.
A breathalyzer can give an incorrect reading. Thus, you should not shy away from challenging the results of a test.