4 Myths About the Breathalyzer
The breathalyzer test has been an important tool used by law enforcement to determine how much alcohol is in someone’s system. It is commonly used when someone is pulled over on suspicion of a DUI. The driver will have to blow into the machine for a sustained period of time, and the machine will detect how much alcohol is present. If you blow a .08 or higher, you will be arrested for driving under the influence. Over the years, a lot of myths and legends have formed related to the breathalyzer test, and believing any of them can cause you a lot of problems.
Myth 1: Place a Penny in Your Mouth to Trick a Breathalyzer Test
Perhaps the most popular myth related to breathalyzer tests is that if you put a penny in your mouth, the copper will somehow trick the machine into showing that you don’t have any alcohol in your system. There are many variants to this myth ranging from people saying the penny must be under your tongue to saying you need to have it in for a certain amount of time. None of this is true and no matter how many pennies you put in your mouth, the breathalyzer machine will return accurate results.
Myth 2: Strong Mints will Fool a Breathalyzer Machine
Another popular myth is that if you put a few strong mints in your mouth, or even rinse your mouth with a strong mouthwash, it will fool the machine. This is also completely false. In fact, the mouthwash option would make you more likely to fail a test because most types of mouthwash have alcohol in them. The thing to keep in mind with this myth, and the penny one above, is that the breathalyzer will be measuring the alcohol over an extended amount of time as you blow, so it detects it from the air in your lungs, not just what was in your mouth.
Myth 3: Drinking Lots of Water Prior to Driving will Help You Test Clean
Many people will say that if you are going to drive after drinking, all you need to do is drink a lot of water. The theory suggests that the water will quickly flush the alcohol out of your system, or that it will dilute it so that you can pass the breathalyzer test. While drinking water after consuming alcohol can be effective at preventing headaches the next day, it won’t help you avoid a DUI. The alcohol will remain in your system until your body is able to filter it all out. Drinking water won’t speed this along.
Myth 4: If a Breathalyzer Shows Above the Limit You are Guilty
One of the most dangerous myths about the breathalyzer is that if you do perform a breathalyzer test and you are above the legal limit, you will automatically be found guilty. There are many times when the results of a breathalyzer can be disputed or even thrown out of court. No matter what breathalyzer results you have against you, you still want to fight any DUI charges so you can protect your rights. Contact Abdallah Law to get an aggressive defense today.