A Portable Breath Testing Device (PBT), commonly known as a portable breathalyzer, is a handheld machine used by police officers to assess your blood alcohol content (BAC) during a DUI investigation in Georgia. If an officer suspects you of driving under the influence, they may ask you to blow into a PBT. However, these devices can sometimes present misleading results, suggesting intoxication even when you may not be impaired. PBTs rely on a chemical reaction within a fuel cell to measure alcohol, but these detectors are highly susceptible to various factors that can lead to inaccurate BAC readings, such as external air temperature, the temperature of the device, recent alcohol consumption, medical conditions, and more.
In court, police are typically not allowed to testify to the exact BAC reading from a Portable Breathalyzer. However, they can state that the device indicated the presence of alcohol in your system. Georgia courts do not consider PBTs scientifically reliable for determining precise BAC levels, only for detecting whether alcohol is present. Importantly, Georgia DUI law does not mandate that you submit a breath sample when investigated by an officer, though refusing to do so may result in the suspension of your driver’s license. The PBT is just one of several field sobriety tests that officers may use during a DUI investigation.
If you are asked to perform tests, answer questions, or provide a breath sample into a Portable Breathalyzer, contact Statesboro DUI attorney Simon Peed immediately. If you are unable to make a call at that moment, you should decline to answer any further questions. Protect your rights—consult with Simon Peed, Statesboro DUI attorney, before submitting a breath sample into a PBT.
