Many Georgia DUI cases rely heavily on breath test results to establish a driver’s level of intoxication. However, medical conditions can significantly affect the accuracy of these tests, leading to false BAC (blood alcohol content) readings. Attorney Simon Peed has extensive experience challenging breath test results, including exploring medical defenses that may apply to your case.
Medical Conditions That Impact Breath Tests:
- GERD and Acid Reflux: Conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux can cause alcohol from the stomach to be expelled into the mouth. When you burp or hiccup, this residual alcohol can result in a false-positive BAC reading, even though the alcohol is not in your bloodstream.
- Dental Work: People with crowns, dentures, or implants may trap alcohol molecules in their dental hardware. These molecules can be released when blowing into the breathalyzer, falsely inflating the BAC reading. The breath test machine registers the alcohol in your mouth, which does not reflect your actual level of intoxication.
- Mouth Alcohol Slope Detectors: While breath test machines are equipped with slope detectors designed to account for mouth alcohol, these features do not always work as intended. Malfunctioning detectors can lead to the machine recording artificially high BAC levels.
Why These Issues Matter:
Breath test machines operate on the assumption that the air tested comes directly from the lungs (alveolar air), which correlates closely to your blood alcohol concentration. If residual alcohol is present in your mouth due to one of the conditions above, it can skew the results and lead to a wrongful conviction.
Your Defense:
Attorney Simon Peed can:
- Examine whether medical conditions or other factors may have influenced your breath test results.
- Investigate whether the breath test machine was properly calibrated and functioning.
- Present expert testimony to explain how these conditions could lead to false readings.
Take Action:
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Georgia and suspect that medical conditions may have impacted your breath test results, call Simon Peed today. His knowledge of Georgia DUI laws and breath test defenses can help protect your rights.
