Understanding Breathalyzer Tests

Understanding Breathalyzer Tests – Strom Law Firm, South Carolina

Learn About Breathalyzer Tests with Strom Law Firm

Understanding breathalyzer tests is crucial when facing a DUI charge in South Carolina. Strom Law Firm is here to clarify this legal and scientific process.

If you are arrested for driving under the influence in South Carolina, the arresting officer will offer you a breath test at the police station or detention center. A breath alcohol testing device (DataMaster DMT) will be used to determine your blood alcohol level by calculating the percentage of alcohol exhaled from the lungs.

What is a Breathalyzer Test?

A breathalyzer test measures the alcohol content in your breath to estimate your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Here’s how it works:

Breath Sampling: You blow into a device that collects a sample of your breath.
Alcohol Detection: The device analyzes the breath for alcohol vapor.
BAC Calculation: The machine calculates your BAC based on the alcohol detected.

Accuracy and Reliability of Breathalyzer Tests

Factors Affecting Accuracy: Breathalyzers can be influenced by mouth alcohol, certain foods, or medical conditions.
Calibration: Regular calibration is necessary for accuracy, but not all devices are maintained properly.

Legal Implications of Breathalyzer Tests in South Carolina

DUI Thresholds: The legal limit for BAC in South Carolina is .08%.
Challenging Results: There are several grounds on which breathalyzer results can be challenged in court.

Frequently Asked Questions about Breathalyzer Test

Q1: Can I refuse a breathalyzer test in South Carolina?

A1: You have the right to refuse, but this can lead to automatic license suspension under implied consent laws.

Q2: How can the accuracy of a breathalyzer test be challenged?

A2: Challenges can be based on improper administration, calibration issues, or personal medical conditions affecting results.

Q3: What happens if I fail a breathalyzer test?

A3: A failed test can lead to a DUI charge, fines, license suspension, and potentially jail time, depending on the specifics of your case.

Q4: Do I need a lawyer if I’ve failed a breathalyzer test?

A4: Yes, having legal representation can significantly impact the outcome of your case by challenging the test’s validity or negotiating plea deals.

Q5: Can food or medication affect breathalyzer results?

A5: Yes, certain foods, like those with alcohol content and some medications, might interfere with breathalyzer accuracy.

South Carolina Breathalyzer Test Explained by Strom Law Firm

How Can a Datamaster DMT Measure Blood Alcohol?

The blood releases alcohol through the breath. When you drink alcohol, the body absorbs it quite literally. It saturates tissue lining in the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines and enters the bloodstream. When that blood circulates through the lungs, the alcohol evaporates out through air sacs in the lungs. A breath test measures the alcohol in the breath that is exhaled.

A device that can measure alcohol in the breath can then estimate alcohol in the blood. Breath testing devices use special technology to calculate the amount of air expelled and the amount of alcohol in that air and then calculate a blood alcohol level based on this ratio above. In South Carolina, the only permissible breath testing device is the DataMaster (DMT), which uses infrared technology to measure the alcohol content in the breath.

Are Breath Test Results Admissible in Court?

Results from the Datamaster, DMT, are admissible as evidence in a driving under the influence charge if the proper protocol for administering the test was followed and you were advised of your rights.

Do I Have the Right to Refuse the Test?

When you apply for and receive a driver’s license in South Carolina, you automatically consent to a future blood, breath, or urine alcohol test, such as a breathalyzer or breath alcohol test, if law enforcement requests. The consent is implied by the act of holding a driver’s license in this state.

The primary purpose of implied consent is to permit law enforcement to request that a blood sample be taken by qualified medical personnel if a person is incoherent, unconscious, or dead. Implied consent grants this authority without the legal risk of violating personal rights.

However, if the person arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence is conscious, coherent, and able to provide consent, the officer must offer that person a breath test—to be performed within two hours of arrest—and inform them of their right to refuse. (For suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, the same stipulation applies for a urine test.)

Refusing a Breath Test and Other Rights

If arrested for DUI, the implied consent law requires that the arresting officer inform you of the following rights:
You have the right to refuse breath alcohol or other tests.
Your driver’s license will automatically be suspended for six months, effective immediately if you refuse to provide breath, blood, or urine samples. (The arresting officer must also issue a notice of suspension to you, marking the effective suspension date as the alleged violation date.)
A refusal to take a breath test may be used against him or her in court.
The defendant can request an administrative hearing within 30 days of the arrest, known as an “implied consent” hearing. At this hearing, you will be allowed to challenge the suspension of your license.

Hire a DUI Lawyer to Challenge Your Breath Test

Criminal defense lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC provide a free consultation to discuss the facts of a DUI case. Founded by a former U.S. Attorney, the team at Strom Law also includes a former Public Defender. It’s awarded the highest Martindale-Hubble ranking and collectively holds more than 50 years of complex litigation experience.

Understanding Breathalyzer Tests