You may have been subjected to a breath test by the police after a DUI traffic stop. The test is supposed to measure the amount of alcohol in your breath. Based on the results, you could be arrested for drunk driving. The test results will likely form part of your case as evidence.
Given that their readings might be relied on in court as evidence against you, It’s important that they’re accurate. However, the reality is that technology is bound to fail at times, and the Breathalyzer may not give accurate readings — or human error may come into play.
Several factors can lead to inaccurate Breathalyzer test results
Something as simple as a wrongly administered test can lead to false results. If the person operating the gadget was not familiar with it, or they failed to follow the proper procedure when conducting the test, it might have tampered with the results. Faulty or wrongly calibrated equipment will also likely not report the correct figures.
In addition, certain types of medication and medical conditions may skew the results, leading to wrong conclusions about your level of sobriety.
What can you do about inaccurate test results?
If you successfully challenge your breath test results, they could be excluded from the trial. Therefore, to secure a guilty verdict, the prosecution will have to find other ways of proving that you were drunk without involving your breath test results. That may not be easy, and the case might conclude in your favor.
In conclusion, Breathalyzers are here to stay, but it helps to know that their results are not always right. It might be useful knowledge when talking about your defense strategy for the DUI charges you are facing.