The biggest problem with the breathalyzer is that it is the results can easily become artificially high. The food you ate, fumes in the area where the test was taken, dieting, health conditions and more can all throw off the test. In fact, the tests are particularly inaccurate when given to diabetics. That’s why anyone who has failed a breathalyzer test and been charged with drunk driving should contact skilled Vista DUI lawyers as soon as possible.
While most people think breathalyzers test how much alcohol is on someone’s breath, the reality is that they actually measure for methyl compounds. The problem is that alcohol is not the only methyl compound that might show up. Acetone is also a methyl compound and acetone is often caused by hypoglycemic spikes in a diabetic’s body. If you have diabetes, a Vista DUI attorney can contest your breathalyzer results as a result.
Even if you don’t have diabetes, you still might have a high amount of acetone in your system if your blood sugar has dipped, which often occurs after a person has had only a small amount to drink, has started a low-carb diet or has been partaking in a cleanse. All of these factors can result in artificially high results that can be disputed by a DUI lawyer.
Vista police should not perform breathalyzer tests to those who have vomited or belched within fifteen minutes of the test. Acid reflux will also produce mouth alcohol. Breathalyzers are supposed to measure air from deep within the lungs and alcohol in the mouth of someone taking the test will cause an artificially high reading.
If you failed a breathalyzer, that doesn’t mean you were guilty of drunk driving. A skilled Vista DUI lawyer like Peter M. Liss can help you fight these charges by showing that you failed the breathalyzer, not because you were drunk, but for another reason all together. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please call (760) 643-4050.
Creative Commons Image by West Midlands Police
