What Can Cause You To Fail A Breathalyzer Test
by Jared Matthews
Have you found yourself in a situation where you need to take a breathalyzer test to prove that you're not intoxicated? If so, you may be questioning if the results of the test can be incorrect. There are a couple of circumstances that can give false positives to a breathalyzer test, which is why it helps to know what can cause this for you.
Residual Alcohol
Were you aware that residual alcohol inside your mouth can cause a false positive result with a roadside breathalyzer test? This is due to how alcohol coats the inside of your mouth when you're drinking, which includes all crevices behind teeth and soft tissues that are hard to clean. That alcohol also causes dehydration, which reduces the amount of saliva your body produces. When you combine these two things, you can end up with residual alcohol in your mouth that is not washed away with saliva. A person that has alcohol left behind in their mouth can cause a false positive result on the breathalyzer test, even if they are below the legal limits for alcohol levels.
The solution to this problem is to drink water while waiting for the effects of your drink to wear off. That will help wash out all any residual alcohol left behind after drinking.
Burping
You may not be aware of how burping can cause a false positive on a breathalyzer test. The alcohol inside your stomach will build up with gas, and when you burp, it all comes out of your mouth. That alcohol content can remain inside your mouth, even if you have not had an alcoholic drink in quite some time. This is problematic if you're asked to take a breathalyzer test unexpectedly and burp right before doing so.
Many people do not think that it is appropriate to ask a police officer to wait before administering the breathalyzer test, but it is worth doing so if you have been burping very recently. Those extra moments can be what saves you from a false positive result. You can also request that the officer tests you a second time to see if the results go down.
DUIs should be taken seriously if you receive one, which is why it is worth working with a lawyer that handles these cases. Their expertise can be what helps you successfully challenge the results of a breathalyzer test that led to receiving your DUI. Call a DWI attorney to learn more about similar things.
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Sometimes it's necessary for individuals to hire a criminal attorney. If you've never had to hire an attorney before, you may not know exactly what to do. Hello, my name is Joanna, and this blog will tell you everything you need to know about hiring a criminal attorney to represent you in your legal matter. I was in this situation recently when a family member needed an attorney. I had to learn quickly what needed to be done, and in the end it all worked out great. I decided to compile a blog to help others learn what to do when they need to hire a criminal attorney. Since this can be a stressful experience, my hope is that this blog will help to ease some of the stress.