How is BAC determined?
BAC evidence often plays a significant role in DUI cases, so if you are pulled over under suspicion of intoxicated driving the officer will ask you to submit to either a breath or blood test to determine your BAC. The two main types of chemical testing are:
Breath Tests: For a breath test the officer will ask the driver to breathe deeply into a breath machine, such as a Breathalyzer. The machine then measures the amount of alcohol on the driver’s breath, and uses this number to estimate the level of alcohol in the blood. Although the only direct method of measuring a person’s blood alcohol concentration is through drawing and testing a blood sample, the evidence gathered through a breath test is often very influential in court.
Blood Tests: The driver’s BAC can be tested by having a blood sample drawn at the police station or at a lab. The sample is then analyzed by a trained lab technician or qualified medical professional to measure the percentage of alcohol present in the blood. Blood test results are considered to be the most reliable evidence of BAC, and this evidence is often preferred by prosecutors and law enforcement when filing DUI charges against a driver.
If you were charged with drunk driving after failing a breath or blood test it is imperative that you contact a Las Vegas DUI defense attorney before entering a plea in your case, as they may be able to fight the allegations and protect your freedoms.
