How Does a Breathalyzer Work?
The breath-testing machines used by Arizona police officers to test drivers for alcohol go by several different brand names, including Breathalyzer and Datamaster.
How Do Breath Testing Machines Work?
Each device operates similarly.
The machine uses a sample of a driver’s breath to test blood alcohol concentration (BAC). A breath sample may be used because as the alcohol in the blood circulates through the lungs, some of it is pulled into the airways when the person exhales. In Arizona, a driver may face a driving while under the influence charge (DUI) if his or her BAC is more than 0.08 percent and exhibits impaired driving.
Breath-testing machines use various means to detect and measure the alcohol in the exhaled air from a driver’s lungs. The original Breathalyzer collects the breath sample and pushes it through a chemical process that produces chromium ions. The machine then measures the concentration of ions, which translates to a specific BAC. Other machines, like the Intoxilyzer, use an infrared beam. The breath sample is passed through the beam, and a sensor detects whether alcohol is present depending on how the wavelength of the beam changes.
One thing all breath-testing machines have in common is the need to be maintained and calibrated regularly in order to give accurate test results. Consequently, the state of the breath-testing machine may be crucial in proving or disproving drunk-driving charges.
If you are facing drunk driving charges in Arizona, do not hesitate to contact the dedicated Arizona DWI defense attorneys at Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. to help you build a defense that protects your legal rights and fights for the best possible outcome in your case.
About the Author
Zachary Mushkatel is a founding attorney of Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., who has practiced law in Arizona since 2004. He also practices before the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A graduate of the University of Arizona and the University of Minnesota Law School, he started his career as a public defender and entered private practice in criminal defense. In 2008, Zachary co-founded a firm dedicated to civil law in addition to criminal defense, and he has since expanded his practice to personal injury, estate planning and litigation, guardianships, conservatorships, probate, corporate litigation, real estate, and various civil matters. He serves on the board and faculty of the Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, and he is a past president and current member of the West Maricopa County Bar Association.
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