Why you should consider options besides a breathalyzer in DUI cases

Often people are arrested on a police officer’s suspicion of drunk driving. The driver may have had a drink or two but still might lack that feeling of being completely under the influence of alcohol. The next step is for a breathalyzer, blood test, or even a urine test to be taken by the suspected DUI offender. The breathalyzer is the most prevalent choice among presumed drunk drivers. This choice often ruins an person’s chances to prove their innocence. Numerous pieces of advice should be taken into account when choosing which alcohol test you'll take.

1.) Avoid the breathalyzer completely if you are someone who diets often, especially low-carb dies. Even if you simply haven’t had much to eat in an hour or two, it is recommended to choose a different DUI test. When someone is on a low-carb diet or hasn’t eaten in awhile, there is a creation of glucose in the liver that gets inhibited creating a plummet in blood sugar. The drop causes ketoacidosis , creating a product called acetone. Acetone is very similar to acetaldehyde, both of which are read as alcohol by a breathalyzer. Even a completely healthy person who consumes only a few drinks of alcohol will experience exaggerated, false symptoms of drunk driving.

2.) Using breath spray or mouthwash is another common, but often fatal mistake driver’s make. Many drivers first instinct when they see those flashing lights behind them is to grab their mouthwash in hopes of covering up the smell of alcohol on their breath. However, what many people don’t realize is that the mouthwash they use has 27% alcohol in it and that alcohol can stay in their oral cavity for 20 minutes and will display an inaccurate and abnormally high reading on a breathalyzer.

3.) Smoking cigarettes can cause a fairly large rise in the breathalyzer reading. The lungs of smokers contain greater amounts of a compound called acetaldehyde than the lungs of non-smokers. Acetaldehyde is produced in the liver as a result in the metabolism of alcohol and breathalyzer’s cannot tell the difference between alcohol and acetaldehyde.

4.) Even something as minute as burping before taking the breathalyzer can provide an inaccurate reading. It is advisable to offer a blood sample rather than a breathalyzer if you have acid reflux or have burped. Belching and acid reflux can cause the alcoholic gases in your stomach to be thrust into your esophagus, throat, and oral cavity, where again, they will remain for as long as 20 minutes. This causes unusually high and inaccurate blood alcohol counts.

5.) Diabetics who are plagued with low blood sugar every day should definitely avoid the breath test for the same reasons as anyone who is on a low-carb diet or hasn’t eaten in awhile. The low-blood sugar cna make a false reading of acetaldehyde, not alcohol. Even worse, diabetics experiencing low-blood sugar almost always experience symptoms of lightheadedness, faintness, lack of coordination, blurry vision, and slurred speech; all of which are symptoms that a police officer might deem as drunk driving.

 

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