BAC Testing Devices
Alcohol can have extremely detrimental effects on one’s driving abilities. Not only can you lose your ability to make rational decisions, but you typically also lose coordination and suffer from decreased reaction times. This can make for very dangerous driving. Thus, law enforcement officials are serious about drunk driving, and they can use a variety of devices to test your blood alcohol content, or BAC.
Police officers have a several different ways to check your BAC. They can estimate your level of intoxication using field sobriety tests, or they can use more exact BAC measurement methods like machines and blood tests. If you have been pulled over and charged with drunk driving, you could be left with a permanent mark on your record. To learn more about your legal options following a DWI/DUI, contact experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney James Powderly today at 401-662-9006.
Machines for Testing Blood Alcohol Content
Swerving, inconsistent speed, and erratic driving can alert law enforcement officers that a person is driving while intoxicated. Once they pull a driver over, they can use specialized machines to detect BAC. These devices include:
- Breathalyzer – detects alcohol via a chemical reaction that causes a color change
- Intoxilyzer – tests BAC by using infrared spectroscopy
- Alcosensor III or IV – uses a fuel cell to determine the presence of alcohol
You have the right to refuse a test from one of these machines under certain circumstances. If you have been forced to submit a sample for a BAC, you should discuss your case with an attorney today.
Contact Us
Alcohol can trick you into thinking you are sober enough to drive even when you are not. If you have been charged with drunk driving, you should speak with an experienced attorney about the next steps you should take. Contact Rhode Island DUI defense lawyer James Powderly at 401-662-9006 for more information.
