Los Angeles
DUI lawyers
Los Angeles DUI attorneys
Why you should consider options besides a breathalyzer in DUI cases
Often times people are arrested on a
police officer’s suspicion of
drunk driving. The driver may have had
a drink or two but still might lack the feeling of being completely
under the influence of alcohol. The next step is for a breathalyzer,
blood test, or even a urine test to be taken by the suspected DUI
offender. The breathalyzer is the most customary choice among
presumed drunk drivers. This choice often ruins an person’s chances
to prove their innocence. Numerous pieces of advice can be taken
into account when considering which alcohol test to take.
1.) If you are someone who diets often, especially a low-carb diet,
it's best to avoid the breathalyzer altogether. It is recommended to
choose another DUI test even if you simply haven’t had much to eat
in a few hours. The reason for this is because when someone is on a
low-carb diet or hasn’t eaten lately, the creation of glucose in the
liver is inhibited and their blood sugar level will plummet. This
drop in blood sugar causes ketoacidosis which creates a product
called acetone. Acetone is very similar to acetaldehyde, which is
read by a breathalyzer as alcohol. Even if you are a completely
healthy person who consumed only a few drinks of alcohol, you will
experience embellished, fake symptoms of
drunk driving.
2.) Using breath spray or mouthwash is another common, but often
fatal mistake driver’s make. A driver’s first instinct when they see
those flashing lights behind them is to grab their mouthwash in
hopes to cover up the smell of alcohol on their breath. However,
what many people don’t realize is that the mouthwash they use has
27% alcohol in it and that alcohol can stay in their oral cavity for
20 minutes and will display an inaccurate and abnormally high
reading on a breathalyzer.
3.) Smoking cigarettes can cause a noticeable rise in the
breathalyzer reading. The lungs of smokers contain greater amounts
of a compound called acetaldehyde than the lungs of non-smokers.
Acetaldehyde is created in the liver as a result in the metabolism
of alcohol and breathalyzer’s cannot tell the difference between
alcohol and acetaldehyde.
4.) Even something as minute as burping before taking the
breathalyzer can provide an incorrect reading. It is advisable to
offer a blood sample instead of a breathalyzer if you have acid
reflux or have belched. Belching and acid reflux can cause the
alcoholic gases in your stomach to be forced into your esophagus,
throat, and oral cavity, where again, they will remain for as long
as 20 minutes. This causes unusually high and inaccurate blood
alcohol counts.
5.) Diabetics often have low blood sugar levels every day. These
people should definitely avoid the breath test for the same reasons
as anyone who is on a low-carb diet or hasn’t eaten in awhile. The
low-blood sugar creates a false reading of acetaldehyde, not
alcohol. Even worse, diabetics experiencing low-blood sugar almost
always experience symptoms of lightheadedness, faintness, lack of
coordination, blurry vision, and slurred speech; all of which are
symptoms that a police officer might call
intoxication.
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