| | Consider Other Options Rather Than Taking the Breathalyzer
Often times a person may be 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 common choice among presumed drunk drivers. This choice often ruins an person’s chances to prove their innocence. A lot of pieces of advice should be taken into account when choosing which alcohol test to 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 a few hours, it is in your best interests to choose another 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 by-product called acetone. Acetone is very similar to acetaldehyde, both of which are read as alcohol by a breathalyzer. Even an entirely healthy person who consumes only a few drinks of alcohol will experience embellished, fake symptoms of drunk driving.
2.) Another really common, but often fatal mistake driver’s will make involves the use of breath spray or mouthwash. Yes, mouthwash helps to cover up the SMELL of alcohol on your breath. However, what many people don’t realize is that on average, breath sprays and mouthwashes have around 27% alcohol and can stay in the oral cavity for as long as 20 minutes, which would make a false reading on even mouth alcohol detector breathalyzers.
3.) A considerable rise in the breathalyzer reading can be caused by smoking cigarettes. The reason for this false reading is that the lungs of smokers have larger amounts of a compound called acetaldehyde than those of non-smokers. Acetaldehyde is produced in the liver as a result in the metabolism of alcohol and breathalyzer’s cannot decipher alcohol from acetaldehyde.
4.) Even something as minimal 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 belched. 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 stay for as long as 20 minutes. This causes unusually high and inaccurate blood alcohol counts.
5.) Diabetics are plagued with low blood sugar levels every day. These people should always 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 creates 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 intoxication.
San Diego DUI drunk driving lawyers and attorneys
Click the link below to return to:
|