{"id":1159,"date":"2024-03-04T22:06:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T22:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sr22adviser.com\/guidance-and-tips\/?p=1159"},"modified":"2024-03-01T22:07:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T22:07:41","slug":"how-do-breathalyzers-work-whats-happening-with-your-breath-when-youre-drunk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sr22adviser.com\/guidance-and-tips\/general\/how-do-breathalyzers-work-whats-happening-with-your-breath-when-youre-drunk\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Breathalyzers Work: What’s Happening with Your Breath When You\u2019re Drunk\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>SR-22 requirement<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brief History of Breathalyzers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The roots of alcohol breath testing go all the way back to 1931, when a professor at Indiana University developed a device called the \u2018drunkometer.\u2019 The machine would collect a breath sample and then pass it through a special solution to detect the presence of alcohol.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span> in-car breathalyzer<\/span><\/a> 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Exactly is a Breathalyzer?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

A <\/span>breathalyzer<\/span><\/a> is a machine that measures how much alcohol is in your breath and then uses this information to calculate your blood alcohol content.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Components of a Breathalyzer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Devices: Alcosensor, Intoxilyzer, and More\u2026<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n