We will start with the obvious. You have a couple of drinks and decide to see if your handy dandy breathalyzer registers you as legally drunk. When the reading comes back with an excessive blood alcohol content (BAC) percentage number, you take heed. You decide it’s best not to get behind the wheel and drive while under the influence. Yes, the personal breathalyzer worked. It saved you from a DWI arrest because you paid attention to the results.
But, just how accurate are personal breathalyzers? What if the gadget tells you that you are not intoxicated? And, you really are drunk? Can this be used as a defense in a DWI case?
The short answer is no. Your arrest could start with your performance in a field sobriety test. New Jersey law states that those suspected of drunk driving have given implied consent to a breathalyzer test by the arresting officer. Yes, on their professional testing device. The alternative is to have your blood drawn at a medical facility. At best, the police officer may be amused that you thought a gadget could save you from a DWI arrest.
We are not saying that personal breathalyzers are necessarily a bad idea. They might be a good barometer for positive readings. Even if they give you a false positive, it’s still worth knowing that you could be drunk. Of course, that only matters if it will keep you from taking a chance at operating a motor vehicle.
It’s holiday time, and you may want to buy yourself or a loved one a personal breathalyzer as a gift. Here’s some basic information that you may find useful:
Of course, the safest way to avoid a drunk driving arrest is not to drive if you have consumed any alcohol. We cannot stress enough that a personal breathalyzer means nothing if you ignore a positive BAC reading. Never rely on a personal breathalyzer that says you are not drunk unless you have not been drinking.
Were you arrested for DWI? At the Law Offices of Beninato & Matrafaljo, we can help you understand the legal consequences. Contact our office to discuss your alternatives.