Breathalyzers & BAC

Santa Monica DUI Lawyer

When law enforcement suspects an individual of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs they may administer a breathalyzer test or a blood test to measure the driver's BAC (blood alcohol concentration). When a person has a BAC at or above 0.08% then they are considered to be too intoxicated to drive and can be arrested and charged with DUI (driving under the influence). If a person is a commercial driver or an underage driver they can face DUI charges with an even lower BAC.

A breathalyzer test is typically administered during a traffic stop or after a DUI arrest by law enforcement. A person would be asked by law enforcement to blow into a device (a breathalyzer) that will then measure the amount of alcohol within a person’s deep lung alveoli, which is said to be almost as accurate as blood test results. A blood test is administered at a police station by insertion of a needle into a person to obtain a blood sample, which is then read by lab personnel.

Either a breathalyzer test or a blood test may have many inaccuracies and problems. For instance, both types of tests may be administered or performed improperly, leading to false results and therefore false DUI arrests. Also, many times lab personnel or law enforcement may be untrained or inexperienced which can cause many mistakes.

DUI Defense Lawyers in Santa Monica, California

If a driver chooses to refuse a breath test or blood test after being arrested for DUI, his or her driver's license may be automatically suspended. This is covered under California's Implied Consent Law, in which a driver's consent to chemical testing is implied because he or she has a California driver's license.

It is very important that you protect your future by hiring a competent Santa Monica DUI lawyer today. A professional DUI defense attorney can dispute any mistaken lab results and any other inaccurate findings. At the Law Offices of Loren M. Merlin we are widely aware of the many legal issues that often surround breathalyzer tests and blood tests. Both a breath test and blood test may be easily disputed by a skilled Santa Monica DUI defense attorney at our firm in which we may be able to have charges lowered or dismissed entirely.

Protecting Your Legal Rights

Please contact our firm immediately so we can begin our own investigation into the charges that you or a loved one may face. Your future is extremely important to us and our Santa Monica DUI defense lawyers are committed to insuring that you receive the best possible outcome for your DUI case.

Problems with breathalyzers & BAC Tests? Contact a Santa Monica DUI Attorney today!