Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the primary element considered when determining if a driver is intoxicated. Breathalyzers are mostly used to measure BAC. Although reliable, breathalyzers are not 100% accurate. A reading may be affected by other factors outside alcohol.
Some of these factors include:
1. Smoking or vaping
People who vape can fail a breathalyzer test, as some vapes contain ethanol, which is rapidly absorbed in the bloodstream and may be detected by a breathalyzer.
Further, acetaldehyde, which is produced when alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) breaks down ethanol, can also be produced when someone smokes. Smoking can increase the levels of acetaldehyde in the body, as this compound is released when tobacco burns. Consequently, someone who smokes not so long before a breathalyzer test may have a false positive or a higher reading.
2. Foods or products containing alcohol in the mouth
If a driver eats food that contains alcohol or breaks down into alcohol through fermentation, they may get inaccurate BAC results. This may also be the case if a driver uses a product that contains alcohol, such as mouthwash or breath freshener, before a breathalyzer test.
Additionally, some medications have alcohol content. For example, some inhalers have ethanol to increase the solubility of the active ingredient. Although it’s usually a small amount, its residue can be left in the mouth, and this can be detected by a breathalyzer. Some cold and cough medications can also affect breathalyzer results.
3. Improper calibration
Over time, the sensors in breathalyzers can drift, making them inaccurate. Therefore, they should be regularly calibrated to maintain accuracy. If a breathalyzer is not calibrated properly or at all, it may give inaccurate results.
If you failed a breathalyzer test when you hadn’t consumed alcohol or if you believe your readings were higher than they should have been, you may want to learn more about your defense options.