Breathalyzers should be periodically calibrated to ensure accuracy and reliability. Georgia requires breath testing instruments to be inspected once every calendar quarter (every three months). The inspection is conducted by members of the Georgia State Patrol Implied Consent Unit.
Here is what to know about the calibration of breathalyzers:
Why are breathalyzers calibrated?
Breathalyzers have sensors that detect alcohol through different processes, including chemical reactions and light absorption. With each use, the sensor gets saturated or coated, reducing its accuracy. Some sensors even lose sensitivity to ethanol oxidation with time. Consequently, breathalyzers need to be calibrated.
During calibration, the device is exposed to a certified dry gas or wet bath simulator with known alcohol concentrations. It’s then adjusted to match the known standard to read accurately. A technician must maintain logs of each calibration, detailing the steps performed and results.
Poor calibration
When a breathalyzer is not regularly calibrated, it can lead to inaccurate readings. This means it may report the presence of alcohol when none is present in one’s breath or may report someone has a higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) than they actually do. Besides, it may fail to detect alcohol or underreport one’s BAC.
This may also be the case when calibration is not done according to the guidelines set by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation – Division of Forensic Sciences (GBI- DOFS). This department approves methods that should be used when investigating breathalyzers. If this is not observed, test results can be unreliable.
A driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol charge can lead to serious penalties. If you believe you received a false positive or that your BAC reading was inaccurately high, you can request the device’s calibration records. Legal guidance is vital in helping you review the records to spot any errors and, in turn, strengthen your defense.