How Accurate Are Breath Tests?

What happens when Illinois officers pull residents over on suspicion of DUI? In these cases, they will run tests to see if you are over the legal alcohol limit. One way to check your blood alcohol content (BAC) level is through breath tests.

But what are these tests? How accurate are they? Today, we will answer these questions.

The potential flaws of breath tests

Many officers view breath tests as a vital tool in the battle to combat drunk driving. How does it work? You breath into the device and it reads the level of alcohol on your breath. From there, it calculates how high your BAC level is. These tests often have a potential high accuracy level. But this is not always the case.

First of all, the accuracy of the device depends on how well officers calibrate and maintain them. An officer must take proper care of the device to ensure its readings are accurate. If they do not, they cannot guarantee the reading itself is right. The same is true if the maintenance logs are inaccurate.

Breath test device defects

Device defects also exist. This happens if there is a mistake on the manufacturer’s end. Though rare, it is still possible. Manufacturing defects result in devices that cannot pinpoint BAC with full accuracy. When the smallest percentage makes a difference, you cannot ignore these mistakes.

Are you interested in reading more about the accuracy of breath tests? You can take a look at the link here to learn more. It leads to our web page on DUI defense. There, we discuss all matters related to DUI crimes. This includes the use of breath tests and related problems.