Reader’s Question:

My brother failed the DUI breath test on his DUI arrest in North Cleveland, Oklahoma. How reliable is the breath test in determining the driver’s blood alcohol level?

Hugo

North Cleveland, OK

The answer to your question, Hugo is extremely long and the subject of great debate. Breath tests are used by law enforcement officers for its ease and convenience, and not on its accuracy. Reliability would depend upon the ability of the breath test machine to accurately measure the presence of breath alcohol. The breath alcohol is supposed to reflect the level of alcohol in a person’s blood. Alcohol in the blood, of course, would produce a depressive effect upon the central nervous system that would lead to intoxication. But even a perfectly functioning breath test machine has problems in producing reliable results as to intoxication.

A simple fact that illustrates a deficiency in the breath test machine is that this machine strictly assumes that the breath temperature is 34 degrees Celsius, which is about 93 degrees Fahrenheit. During your brother’s DUI arrest in North Cleveland, Oklahoma, if his breath temperature is higher than 34 degrees Celsius, his breath test result will be higher than the true level. Because of that, he has to consult a qualified DUI lawyer to help him and further assist him about breath testing and other matters on his DUI case.

Tags: blood alcohol, breath test, DUI, DUI lawyer