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Breathalyzer
A breathalyzer (or breathalyser) is a device for estimating blood alcohol content (BAC) from a breath sample. "Breathalyzer" is the brand name of a series of models made by one manufacturer of these instruments (originally Smith and Wesson, later it was sold to National Draeger), but has become a genericized trademark for all such instruments. Intoxilyzer, Intoximeter, AlcoScan, Alcotest, AlcoSensor, Alcolizer, Datamaster are the other most common brand names in use today. In Canada, a preliminary non-evidentiary screening device can be approved by Parliament as an approved screening device and an evidentiary breath instrument can be similarly designated as an approved instrument. The U.S. Government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a "Conforming Products List" of breath alcohol devices approved for evidentiary use [1], as well as for preliminary screening use [2].
D.C.'s breathalyzer failing grade should raise tougher scrutiny of breathalyzer tests nationwide.
Image from National Institute of Standards & Technology. Breathalyzer tests are junk science. At best, breathalyzer machines should only be used to determine whether to obtain a more thorough blood alcohol screening, through a blood test (or a balloon test, according to one forensic chemist whom I respect very much)...
The Sacred Breathalyzer
I’ve written repeatedly in the past about the inaccuracy and unreliability of the various breath machines used to estimate blood alcohol concentrations...
Is the breathalyzer racist?
So claims one Connecticut lawyer, James O. Ruane, son of the famous DUI attorney James J. Ruane. In this most recent DUI case, the younger Ruane filed a motion to suppress the results of the breathalyzer, arguing inter alia:
the lung capacity of a black man is 3 percent smaller than a white man and, therefore, [...
So the breathalyzer is racist!
Way back in November 2008, when the world was a rosier place, I asked if the breathalyzer was racist. The post was based on a comment by noted DUI lawyer Jay Ruane, who challenged the use of the Intoxilyzer 5000 by the State of CT...
Why a Breathalyzer Test May be Inaccurate.
Alcotest Not Much Improvement Over Breathalyzer
An investigator appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court believes a new breath-testing device for DWI cases is reliable, reports the Associated Press...
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