Breathalyzer Test Definition

If you are pulled over by a police officer who suspects you are under the influence of alcohol, a breathalyzer test may be used to determine your level of intoxication. In order to do this, the test must calculate the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, or blood alcohol content (BAC)—and if your results indicate your BAC is above the legal limitation in your area, you can expect to be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI).

As the name suggests, a breathalyzer test uses a person’s breath to determine his or her blood alcohol content. To perform the test, you must submit a breathe sample by blowing into a tube on the testing device. If the breathalyzer detects alcohol, it will use the amount of alcohol in your breathe sample to determine the ratio of alcohol to blood in your system. This number will then be converted to a percentage, and the final measurement becomes your BAC.

In most states, the legal BAC limit is 0.08%. As a result, anyone whose breathalyzer test results indicates a BAC of 0.08% or higher can be arrested for drunk driving, regardless of his or her driving abilities.

However, many states have recently passed zero tolerance laws to prohibit drivers from operating a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in their system at all (which means drivers in these areas can be charged with DUI for having a BAC above 0.00%).

Although breathalyzer tests are the most commonly used method of determining a person’s BAC, blood and/or urine tests may also be used in certain areas. It is important to know that, due to implied consent laws, you are legally required to comply with any officer who asks you to perform one or more of these chemical tests. In fact, many state laws impose harsher penalties for drivers who refuse the test than for those who take the test and fail.

If you were recently arrested for DUI after failing or refusing to take a breathalyzer test, it is important to obtain legal representation immediately. In many cases, a skilled defense attorney may be able to challenge your test results and help you avoid the many criminal penalties that are often associated with a drunk driving conviction.

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