Criminal Defense Firm Serving Northeastern And Central Pennsylvania
Free Consultation: 570-279-4191
Criminal Defense Firm Serving Northeastern And Central Pennsylvania
Excellence In Criminal Defense

DUI topics: What can cause false positive breathalyzer results?

by | Feb 27, 2020 | Dui |

Getting arrested on DUI charges in Pennsylvania is bad enough when you have had one or two drinks. Getting charged with a DUI when you are 100% sober and have had no alcohol is an even worse nightmare.

An unfortunate byproduct of the state’s efforts to minimize drunken driving is an overzealous approach on the part of law enforcement. Perhaps these well-meaning police officers conduct field sobriety tests like the breathalyzer incorrectly. On the other hand, maybe these officers simply have a poor understanding of how breathalyzers work.

Human error is not the only reason for false-positive breathalyzer readings. The following section lists several ways faulty breathalyzer readings can occur, many times resulting in an arrest on DUI charges.

  • The recent use of products such as mouthwash, toothache medication or breath fresheners can lead to false-positive readings.
  • Certain substances in the traffic stop environment such as paint fumes, adhesives or varnish can make a breathalyzer inaccurate.
  • If the breathalyzer has not been maintained or calibrated recently, a false positive may occur.
  • When the software responsible for a breathalyzer’s accurate operation is subject to glitches, it may result in a false positive reading.

The main takeaway here is that you don’t have to give up on your defense if an inaccurate breathalyzer test led to your arrest on DUI charges. Defense attorneys are familiar with the ways in which false blood alcohol concentration results may occur and they can help you prove your innocence.

It is far wiser to have a legal advocate investigate your arrest to determine why your test returned a positive reading. A proper defense can keep your driving record clean and make certain you can continue with your normal way of living.