DUI Test

Across the United States, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent. For drivers under the age of 21, the legal limit is even lower.

In order to determine a driver’s BAC, the law enforcement agent will administer a chemical DUI test. The three types of DUI tests are the breath, blood, and urine test. If an officer believes that a suspect is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, he or she will ask the defendant to submit to a DUI test. The penalties for refusing to take a DUI test are much stiffer than if the suspect had taken the blood, breath, or urine test and failed.

Of the three tests, the breath test is the most commonly administered. You may have heard the breath test referred to as a breathalyzer test. The breathalyzer is a portable machine that is connected to a plastic tube. In order to obtain the breath sample, the suspect must blow into the tube. The machine determines the suspect’s BAC based on the alcohol in his or her breath. There are portable breath tests that are used at the side of the road to determine if a driver is over the legal limit. There is also an official breath test that is conducted at the police station or detention center.

Blood tests are considered to be more accurate than urine or breath tests. In order to administer the blood test, the officer must bring the suspect back to the police station or a medical facility to draw a blood sample. There are times when a suspect who has failed the breath test will also submit a blood sample for evidence. In addition to determining BAC, the blood test is used to screen for drugs.

The urine test is the least commonly used of the three tests, as well as the least accurate. This test is typically only used when the other two tests cannot be administered. However, the urine test can be used to screen for other drugs.

If you have recently been charged with DUI after failing one of these three DUI tests, you should contact a skilled DUI lawyer. These tests are far from perfect, and a DUI lawyer will know the weaknesses with each of the tests.