You may be familiar with breathalyzers, but maybe not so much with the concept of how they actually work. Breathalyzers are designed to measure the amount of alcohol in your system to determine if you are legally impaired.
Understanding the basics of blood alcohol content and breathalyzers can help you make vital decisions before you get behind the wheel. If you fail a breathalyzer test while driving, you may be arrested for DUI. This comes with a host of issues, including the possibility of an SR-22 requirement.
Brief History of Breathalyzers
The roots of alcohol breath testing go all the way back to 1931, when a professor at Indiana University developed a device called the ‘drunkometer.’ The machine would collect a breath sample and then pass it through a special solution to detect the presence of alcohol.
In 1952, a police captain and professor developed an even simpler, faster way to conduct a roadside breath analysis, leading to the release of the first breathalyzer. Breath analyzers have since evolved, becoming more advanced and convenient.
Now, law enforcement regularly uses portable breathalyzers to estimate blood alcohol content (BAC). If you have a DUI conviction, you may be required to use an in-car breathalyzer to provide proof of your sobriety before starting your car. These tools have become essential for both identifying people driving under the influence and helping them regain their driving privileges.
What Exactly is a Breathalyzer?
A breathalyzer is a machine that measures how much alcohol is in your breath and then uses this information to calculate your blood alcohol content.
Main Components of a Breathalyzer
Breathalyzers typically contain a mouthpiece that you blow into, a sensor to detect alcohol, and a processor to interpret the information from the sensor. It also includes a display to deliver the final results. You steadily blow into the mouthpiece for a certain amount of time, wait for the sensor to process your breath, and then receive the results.
Types of Devices: Alcosensor, Intoxilyzer, and More…
Depending on the model, the sensor in the device can use different methods to measure your BAC. Here are a few of the different options on the market:
- Infrared Spectrometers: These devices determine your BAC by measuring the amount of light absorbed through your breath sample, which correlates to the concentration of alcohol in your breath. The Intoxilyzer is one example of an infrared spectrometry breathalyzer.
- Fuel Cell Testers: These devices use a fuel cell that produces an electrical response based on the alcohol content in your breath. The Alco-Sensor is one example of a fuel cell breathalyzer.
- Oxide Breathalyzers: With oxide-based semiconductor tests, the sensor uses a chemical reaction that detects the presence of ethanol, determining your BAC.
Stationary vs. Portable Breathalyzers
There are different types of devices available to measure blood alcohol content (BAC) depending on the situation. Law enforcement officers use small and portable devices to measure the BAC of motorists suspected of driving under the influence (DUI). At the police stations, they have larger and more accurate stationary devices to verify their results.
Advanced Breathalyzers: BACtrack Mobile, BACtrack C8 and More
As technology develops, advanced breathalyzers have begun to hit the market. This includes personal devices that connect to your smartphone, such as the BACtrack mobile or BACtrack C8. Car breathalyzers are also becoming more convenient and streamlined, allowing you to fulfill your court-ordered breathalyzer obligations with ease.
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Diving into Accuracy of Breathalyzers
Breathalyzer tests can determine whether or not you’ll be charged with a DUI (and getting a DUI impacts your car insurance, among other things), so it’s understandable to wonder if they’re accurate. Here’s a breakdown:
How Reliable Are Breathalyzer Tests?
Breathalyzers are typically accurate and reliable, but they do have a margin of error that can reach up to 15%. Their accuracy can also vary depending on the quality of the machine. While breathalyzers used by law enforcement are typically high-quality, blood tests are generally more accurate than a roadside test.
Can a Breathalyzer Fail?
Like any piece of technology, breathalyzers can malfunction. Certain factors could even cause false positives. Re-testing or submitting to a blood test can help correct inaccurate breathalyzer results. To avoid false positives for an in-car breathalyzer, it’s important to keep up with required maintenance and calibration. If your in-car device unexpectedly fails or gives a false positive, you can also reach out to the manufacturer for troubleshooting support.
Understanding Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
You may wonder how a breath analysis can detect the amount of alcohol in your blood. As your body processes alcohol, it will essentially evaporate into your breath. This creates a correlation between the amount you breathe out and the concentration in your bloodstream. When you breathe into a breathalyzer, it measures your breath alcohol content and uses that information to determine your BAC.
Factors That Affect BAC
The standard legal BAC limit is 0.08. But how much do you have to drink to reach the legal limit? Several factors can influence how quickly you get intoxicated and how much alcohol is in your blood. These include:
- Gender: Men typically need to drink more to reach the same BAC as women.
- Weight: Your height, weight, and body type can influence your BAC. People who weigh more typically have more fluids to process the alcohol, leading to a lower BAC. However, having a high body fat percentage could make it harder to process alcohol, leading to a higher BAC.
- Recent meals: Having something to eat can decrease the amount of alcohol you absorb into your system, leading to a lower BAC.
It’s critical to keep these factors in mind to ensure that you’re drinking responsibly. If you’re unsure of whether your BAC is within the legal limit, it’s always best to find a sober ride home.
Implications of Breathalyzer Results
Having too much alcohol in your system while you drive is a serious offense. It’s important to be aware of the consequences of a positive breathalyzer test before getting behind the wheel.
Legal and Safety Consequences of a Positive Test
First and foremost, drunk driving can put your life and the lives of others at risk. Having a high BAC reduces your reaction time, making it more challenging to operate a motor vehicle. If you get pulled over and have a positive breathalyzer test, you’ll likely be charged with a DUI, which could lead to thousands of dollars in legal fees and even jail time.
How Long After Drinking Can a Breathalyzer Detect Alcohol?
Because it takes time for your body to process alcohol, breathalyzers may not work right away. It can take about 15 minutes for alcohol to appear in your breath. After that, they can detect it for 12 to 24 hours after you start drinking.
Have a DUI on Your Record? Learn About Getting a Free SR-22 Insurance Quote
If you had a positive breathalyzer test and got charged with a DUI, you likely need SR-22 insurance for high-risk drivers. Reach out to our partner online to get a free insurance quote today.