When you drive on a public road in Georgia, you automatically give consent to chemical testing. Thus, you are required to submit to a test requested by a law enforcement officer when lawfully arrested for a suspected driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol offense.
The chemical tests that can be administered are:
Blood test
This is considered the most accurate method because it directly measures a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Nonetheless, some factors can affect its results, such as improper handling and contamination.
Breath test
When alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream, it travels throughout the body, including the lungs. In the lungs, some of it diffuses into the air sacs (alveoli), where it will evaporate and be exhaled through breath. This is the principle behind breathalyzer tests. Breathalyzers measure the concentration of alcohol in the exhaled air to estimate one’s BAC.
Some factors can skew a breathalyzer’s readings. These include poor calibration, environmental factors like extreme temperatures, medical conditions that increase the levels of acetone in the body and the presence of other substances containing alcohol in the mouth like food and breath fresheners.
Urine test
Urine testing is the least accurate. It’s mostly administered when other tests are not immediately available. Or for further investigation when someone is suspected of being under the influence of other drugs.
The Georgia implied consent law also includes “other bodily substances,” which can mean anything that can show the presence of alcohol or drugs, such as saliva, hair and so on. If you failed a test and are facing a DUI charge, it’s important to establish if any mistakes were made during the testing process, as that could give you a line of defense.