Denton Criminal Lawyer

How Breathalyzer Tests Work

When you drink, the alcohol can affect your brain, which in turn can alter the way you drive. If law enforcement officials suspect you of drinking and driving, they can pull you over and request that you submit to a blood alcohol test. The Breathalyzer is one of the most popular machines used to test your blood alcohol content, or BAC.

As reliable as the Breathalyzer may seem, it can still be faulty when calculating your BAC. If you have been wrongfully accused of driving while intoxicated due to Breathalyzer failure, you should contact an experienced Denton criminal defense lawyer from Alexander & Associates today at 972-420-6560.

Alcohol on Your Breath

With a Breathalyzer, you breathe into a device that collects your exhalation for testing. However, how does the alcohol get in your breath? As you drink, your body absorbs the alcohol into your bloodstream, which cycles throughout your body. In your lungs, the alcohol can filter from your blood to your lungs with the carbon dioxide. Thus, when you exhale, the carbon dioxide exhalation also carries small amounts of alcohol.

Chemical Testing

Inside the Breathalyzer, your exhalation goes through several chemical mixtures which are then converted to electrical signals. These signals are proportional to your overall BAC. Your exhalation will move a needle on the Breathalyzer's gauge to inform the law enforcement officials of your calculated BAC.

Contact Us

The Breathalyzer is not infallible. It may have improper chemical mixtures or faulty gauges that can distort your BAC results. If you believe that a Breathalyzer has misled law enforcement officials into charging you with DWI or DUI, you have the right to defend yourself against these charges. To learn more, contact the knowledgeable Denton criminal lawyers of Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560 today.