Breathalyzer Mouth Alcohol

Although breathalyzers are one of the most common tools law enforcement officers use to identify drunk drivers, they are far from 100% reliable when it comes to measuring the amount of alcohol a person has in his or her system—a calculation known as blood alcohol content, or BAC. How so? Because the device forms this calculation based on the individual’s breath sample, and simply assumes the amount of alcohol detected here accurately reflects the amount of alcohol in his or her bloodstream. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, as the presence of mouth alcohol can falsely elevate a person’s BAC and produce inaccurate breathalyzer results. Here’s what you should know about breathalyzer mouth alcohol.

Regardless of which state you live in, it is a criminal offense to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. In addition, many states also have lower limits for underage drivers and commercial vehicle operators. Due to these laws, any person who is caught driving with an illegal amount of alcohol in his or her system can expect to be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI).

There are several different ways to determine a person’s BAC. In addition to breathalyzers, a blood or urine test can be used; however, breath tests are by far the most frequently used method used by officers—despite the fact that blood tests are far more reliable.

If an officer asks you to take a breathalyzer, you will be asked to blow into a small tube until the officer tells you to stop. Once you have completed this task, the device will analyze your breath sample and look for any traces of alcohol. Should the device detect any alcohol in this sample, it will use a set ratio to calculate BAC. This means that if you have any alcohol on your breath, the breathalyzer will automatically conclude it’s because you have been drinking—a false perception that will be reflected in your BAC calculation. 

For example, individuals who suffer from acid reflux disease (heartburn) or other gastrointestinal problems tend to have higher amounts of alcohol present on their breath. This is because their disorder can cause alcohol vapors to rise from the stomach to the mouth. In fact, if a person has belched, vomited, or even just hiccupped 20 minutes prior to taking a breath test, the results will most likely show a much higher BAC than the person truly has.

As you can see, mouth alcohol can cause a great deal of confusion when it comes to your breathalyzer results. If you recently failed a breath test, it is important to discuss your BAC calculation with an experienced DUI defense attorney. In many cases, your prior activities or medical history may have caused an accumulation of mouth alcohol and led to an inflated BAC reading.

To learn more about ways you may be able to challenge your breathalyzer results, contact an attorney who specializes in drunk driving defense in your area immediately after your arrest. Fill in a free online case evaluation form right away for legal aid.

States and Cities:
AK	Alaska, Anchorage	LA	Louisiana, New Orleans	OH	Ohio, Cincinnati
AL	Alabama, Montgomery	MA	Massachusetts, Boston	OK	Oklahoma, Tulsa
AR	Arkansas, Little Rock	MD	Maryland, Baltimore	OR	Oregon, Portland
AZ	Arizona, Phoenix	ME	Maine, Portland	PA	Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
CA	California, Los Angeles	MI	Michigan, Detroit	RI	Rhode Island, Providence
CO	Colorado, Denver	MN	Minnesota, Duluth	SC	South Carolina, Charleston
CT	Connecticut, Hartford	MO	Missouri, Branson	SD	South Dakota, Sioux Falls
DE	Delaware, Wilmington	MS	Mississippi, Jackson	TN	Tennessee, Nashville
FL	Florida, Orlando	MT	Montana, Bozeman	TX	Texas, Houston
GA	Georgia, Atlanta	NC	North Carolina, Charoltte	UT	Utah, Salt Lake City
HI	Hawaii, Honolulu	ND	North Dakota, Fargo	VT	Vermont, Burlington
IA	Iowa, Des Moines	NE	Nebraska, Omaha	VA	Virginia, Richmond
ID	Idaho, Boise	NH	New Hampshire, Portsmouth	WA	Washington, Seattle
IL	Illinois, Chicago	NJ	New Jersey, Newark	WI	Wisconsin, Milwaukee
IN	Indiana, Indianapolis	NM	New Mexico, Albuquerque	WV	West Virginia, Charleston
KS	Kansas, Kansas City	NV	Nevada, Las Vegas	WY	Wyoming, Cheyenne
KY	Kentucky, Lexington	NY	New York, New York	DC	Washington DC