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Why you should consider options besides a breathalyzer in DUI cases
Often times a person may be arrested on a police officer’s suspicion of drunk driving. The driver might have had only a drink or two but might still not have 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. A number of pieces of advice can be taken into account when picking which alcohol test you'll 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 a person is on a low-carb diet or hasn’t eaten in awhile, the creation of glucose in the liver is inhibited and their blood sugar levels will drop rapidly. This drop in blood sugar causes ketoacidosis which creates a product called acetone. Acetone is like 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.) Another very common, but often fatal mistake driver’s can make involves the use of breath spray or mouthwash. Yes, mouthwash helps to cover up the SMELL of alcohol on your breath. But consequently, what many people don’t take into account is that on average, breath sprays and mouthwashes contain approximately 27% alcohol and can stay in the oral cavity for as long as 20 minutes, which would make a false reading on even mouth alcohol detector breathalyzers.
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 minimal as burping before taking the breathalyzer can provide an incorrect reading. It is advisable to offer a blood sample rather than 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 stay for as long as 20 minutes. This causes unusually high and inaccurate blood alcohol counts.
5.) Diabetics who are plagued with low blood sugar every day 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 can make 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 deem as drunk driving.
San Jose DUI drunk driving lawyers and attorneys
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