How A Breathalyzer Works

Now more than ever, police and other authorities are cracking down on drunk driving. In many places, it is also illegal to drive with alcohol in your system even if you are not drunk. The latter is called buzz driving and can carry the same sentence as if you are pulled over and found to be intoxicated at a higher level. The bottom line is that you should not drink and drive. But the truth is that many people do drive under the influence, particularly around the holidays when various parties are held at many establishments and homes around the city.

It is a frightening scenario when you are pulled over by the police and told that you are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Even if you’ve had too much to drink, you are still aware of the police officer’s presence and intention. You realize that there is a possibility that you will be arrested and taken to jail and this is a disturbing reality. The police officer will be asking you to take a breathalyzer test. Understanding how a breathalyzer works is good information to know.

What A Breathalyzer Does

A breathalyzer is a small piece of equipment that is designed to determine the amount of alcohol content in your blood. The reason for this determination is because studies have shown that if you have more than a certain amount of alcohol in your blood, you are considered legally drunk and should not be operating a motor vehicle. The common term, DUI stands for driving under the influence and is illegal.

The breathalyzer works by being inserted into the mouth and blown into for a specified amount of time. The blood alcohol content can be determined by the breath that is blown into the breathalyzer and gives a reading back to the law enforcement official who is taking the test. If you have been drinking and driving and are being given a breathalyzer you can be certain that the results will be accurate and that you cannot tamper with a breathalyzer to make a different reading other than what is actually in your system at the time.

What a Breathalyzer Is

A breathalyzer is a small straw like piece that is inserted into the mouth. This straw piece is connected to a small piece of equipment that works in a similar manner as do blood glucose meters for diabetics with the difference between that diabetics have to administer a small drop of blood into their meter to get a blood sugar reading. A breathalyzer is portable and can be carried on an emergency vehicle or with the law enforcement officer who pulled you over.

A breathalyzer is the most widely recognized way to determine if you are under the influence of alcohol. The other way is to have blood drawn, such as at a hospital if you have been in an accident.

Contact one of our experienced drunk driving lawyers in your area today!