Denton Criminal Attorneys

Blood Alcohol Testing

Upon arrest for DWI or other alcohol-related charges, the officer is to inform you of your “chemical test” rights. This includes what happens in the event of your refusal and that you are entitled to opt for a urine or blood sample so that additional testing can be conducted. If the police fail to notify you of your rights, you have the ability to challenge the consequences.

In most jurisdictions, you will be allowed to choose how your blood alcohol content, or BAC, will be measured. The most standard options are a breath test or blood test. However, in some instances you may be allowed a urine test. Even if your state demands a breath test, you can have a blood or urine test conducted to verify the results.

Breath tests can be performed with a breathalyzer or datamaster. The datamaster is a newer machine which is growing in popularity as it is much more simplistic than a breathalyzer. A breathalyzer has a needle which is read by an officer. Because of the needle measurement, the difference between a .09 reading and a .10 reading can be highly subjective. However, the datamaster simply prints out a ticket with the mechanically determined results. Therefore, there is no debate as to the interpretation.

The best way to verify sobriety is a blood test. Urine tests are considered the least accurate measuremen, as the urine does not always reflect the blood alcohol content at a single point in time.

If you are in need of legal assistance, contact Denton criminal lawyers of Alexander & Associates by dialing 972-420-6560.