How accurate are police breathalysers?
Discussion
Lady from my office was driving home after having a couple of glasses of wine. She was sitting in traffic when someone t-boned her. Police were called and she was breathalysed and subsequently arrested for drunk driving. When she provided breath specimens they read 36 and 35.
Ive read elsewhere that the machines have 95% certainly levels, does anybody know this to be true?
Ive read elsewhere that the machines have 95% certainly levels, does anybody know this to be true?
Doppelkupplung said:
Lady from my office was driving home after having a couple of glasses of wine. She was sitting in traffic when someone t-boned her. Police were called and she was breathalysed and subsequently arrested for drunk driving. When she provided breath specimens they read 36 and 35.
Ive read elsewhere that the machines have 95% certainly levels, does anybody know this to be true?
Said Lady is a fIve read elsewhere that the machines have 95% certainly levels, does anybody know this to be true?
king idiot. Drink or drive never both. To answer your question i'd say pretty accurate based on what I have seen and heard. Isn't the roadside test is just a guideline though. If they blow over at the roadside then they are taken in and the more accurate machine at the station is what is used as evidence.
Have seen many of the police camera action style programs of people just failing at the road side then just passing at the station and simply left to go after a stern talk.
DaveH23 said:
Doppelkupplung said:
Lady from my office was driving home after having a couple of glasses of wine. She was sitting in traffic when someone t-boned her. Police were called and she was breathalysed and subsequently arrested for drunk driving. When she provided breath specimens they read 36 and 35.
Ive read elsewhere that the machines have 95% certainly levels, does anybody know this to be true?
Said Lady is a fIve read elsewhere that the machines have 95% certainly levels, does anybody know this to be true?
king idiot. Drink or drive never both. To answer your question i'd say pretty accurate based on what I have seen and heard. Isn't the roadside test is just a guideline though. If they blow over at the roadside then they are taken in and the more accurate machine at the station is what is used as evidence.
Have seen many of the police camera action style programs of people just failing at the road side then just passing at the station and simply left to go after a stern talk.
I'm sure one of the PH BiB will confirm that (or not).
If she read 36 and 35 she should be ok, legal limit is 35 and police always take the lower of the 2 readings.
unless you are in scotland
And still a bit daft taking a risk after 2 glass's of wine when a taxi would be cheap enough. ( pay for 2 taxis and have 1 driver take her car home if its needed early next day, I have done that a few times myself rather than drive even after a single pint)
unless you are in scotland
And still a bit daft taking a risk after 2 glass's of wine when a taxi would be cheap enough. ( pay for 2 taxis and have 1 driver take her car home if its needed early next day, I have done that a few times myself rather than drive even after a single pint)
DaveH23 said:
Said Lady is a fking idiot. Drink or drive never both.
To answer your question i'd say pretty accurate based on what I have seen and heard. Isn't the roadside test is just a guideline though. If they blow over at the roadside then they are taken in and the more accurate machine at the station is what is used as evidence.
Have seen many of the police camera action style programs of people just failing at the road side then just passing at the station and simply left to go after a stern talk.
Yes she behaved very irresponsibly and she has risked everything, if found guilty she's screwed...king idiot. Drink or drive never both. To answer your question i'd say pretty accurate based on what I have seen and heard. Isn't the roadside test is just a guideline though. If they blow over at the roadside then they are taken in and the more accurate machine at the station is what is used as evidence.
Have seen many of the police camera action style programs of people just failing at the road side then just passing at the station and simply left to go after a stern talk.
The print out also had a couple of other numbers which I understand to be a zeroing of the machine before each sample was taken but I am not sure.
She's an idiot. Drinking and driving is my biggest pet peeve. I have lost someone very dear to me due to this. The kind of people who "just have a couple" and drive are the worst!
I appreciate this doesn't answer your question really.
From watching the TV, they usually take you back to the station for a blood test to confirm the roadside figures, I wasn't aware that the roadside reading only would
Either way, I would suggest she hire a lawyer.
I appreciate this doesn't answer your question really.
From watching the TV, they usually take you back to the station for a blood test to confirm the roadside figures, I wasn't aware that the roadside reading only would
Either way, I would suggest she hire a lawyer.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: In all the cop shows I've watched the roadside test was only used to arrest you and get you the station to provide a specimen on the evidentiary machine where it's the lower of two "goes".
This is how I understood the process to be. Silly woman, but I fear here OP shes stretchin the truth with the figures.
xjay1337 said:
She's an idiot. Drinking and driving is my biggest pet peeve. I have lost someone very dear to me due to this. The kind of people who "just have a couple" and drive are the worst!
I appreciate this doesn't answer your question really.
From watching the TV, they usually take you back to the station for a blood test to confirm the roadside figures, I wasn't aware that the roadside reading only would
Either way, I would suggest she hire a lawyer.
They won't take your bloods in the UK unless you can't or won't provide a sample of breath. Limit in the Uk is 35, so she would seem to be in the clear? I appreciate this doesn't answer your question really.
From watching the TV, they usually take you back to the station for a blood test to confirm the roadside figures, I wasn't aware that the roadside reading only would
Either way, I would suggest she hire a lawyer.
Seems like she's had a narrow escape.
Doppelkupplung said:
Thanks for the replies.
She's on bail I so presume she has been. She has an interview in 10 days, is that the normal process?
You don't get interviewed for drink driving. The blood option no longer exists either. It is only taken if she comes up with a valid medical reason as to why she can't provide an adequate, evidential breath sample. She's on bail I so presume she has been. She has an interview in 10 days, is that the normal process?
(It's amazing how many drink drivers claim they've 'only had a couple')
KevinCamaroSS said:
e21Mark said:
Bail doesn't mean she has been charged.
I don't think you are correct with that statement. Bail applies after you have been charged, not before.Evidential breath test machines are about 85% accurate.
In Northern Ireland, 17.5% is deducted from the lower specimen to obtain the result relied upon. In England, the lower result is relied upon.
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