Personal Breathalyzers to Prevent Drunk Driving & DUI
To help prevent drunk driving arrests, some San Diego drivers are turning to the use of personal breathalyzers as a means to ensure they are not above California's legal limit of 0.08% BAC.
The availability of personal breath testing devices is varied, and the reliability of these machines is wide and speculative. While these personal alcohol testers may help drinkers avoid potentially life devastating circumstances, both San Diego Law Enforcement Personnel and the machine's manufacturers advise consumers to exercise caution when relying on them as a preventative measure to avoid DUI.
Breath testing machines measure alcohol in the human body by analyzing exhaled breath from deep in the lungs, where air and blood interact. It should be noted that the accuracy of these personal alcohol sensing devices varies greatly, and the results demonstrated are sometimes obscured by improper use.
Models using a semiconductor mechanism range from novelty items to professional grade devices. The Alcohawk line ranges from the key chain-sized Alcohawk Micro, priced at about $60.00, to the Alcohawk Elite, priced at about $150.00. You may even find coin operated machines being marketed by bars and nightclubs.
Fuel cell breathalyzer models are purported to be the most accurate portable breath alcohol testers available to consumers, but they cost substantially more than semiconductor models, usually priced between $400 and $700 for each unit. Fuel Cell Breath Alcohol Detectors are typically used by professional organizations such as law enforcement agencies. Infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography portable breath testers are considered to be much more accurate, but cost more than $1,000 and are not currently being made available as consumer hand-held devices.
A breath alcohol sensor device is dependent on the receipt of a good breath sample, which is not always a guarantee when someone is already under the influence.
To ensure that alcohol has been given a chance to be absorbed into the bloodstream, food, drink, and tobacco should be avoided for at least fifteen minutes prior to using a breathalyzer to obtain the most accurate reading possible. it is important to keep in mind that mouthwashes and breath sprays contain high amounts of alcohol, which can mistakenly register as mouth alcohol if used within thirty minutes of a hand held breath test. Many of these consumer alcohol breath testing devices are at best intended for use by parents as a "zero-tolerance" tester to determine whether their child has been drinking.
Please also note that San Diego Police Departments recalibrate their breathalyzer machines every month to maintain their accuracy, but consumer devices lack the same reliability due to their inability to be recalibrated.
Breathalyzers that do not use a mouthpiece, known as passive alcohol sensors, allow air from outside of the body to mix into the breath sample and often result in inaccurate readings.
Personal Breathalyzer Retailers
When deciding on which type of Personal Breathalyzer to use, first consider the specifications for each unit. Always look for ease of use, accuracy, and maintenance availability.
Q3 Alcohol Testing Specialists claims to be the premier source for personal breath alcohol testing products, supplies, and alcohol-related information. They have over 16 years of combined experience in the breath alcohol testing industry.
Craig Medical
Sells the AlcoScan™ AL2500,
Premium Personal Digital Alcohol Breath Analyzer.
Alcotester.com
Maintains an online shop for alcohol testing breathalyzers. Specializes exclusively in Alcohol testing equipment and breathalyzers. Claims to be the provider of breath alcohol testing supplies to the military, hospitals, schools and several law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
G. Cole Casey is THE top DUI Defense Lawyer in San Diego County. His practice is dedicated exclusively to the defense of persons charged with DUI, DWI and Drunk Driving in Southern California.
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