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1540 E. Maryland Ave., Suite 100B
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Call For Your 30 Min Case Evaluation
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Chandler, Arizona, one of the key factors in your case will be your blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time of the arrest. In Arizona, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher. Even if your BAC is below this legal limit, you can still potentially be charged with a DUI if the officer believes your driving was impaired by alcohol to the slightest degree.
Given the importance of BAC evidence in DUI cases, it’s important to understand how BAC is measured and the potential issues that can arise with BAC testing. Here, the Chandler DUI defense team at The Molina Law Group will explain everything you need to know about BAC testing in Chandler DUI cases.
When an officer suspects a driver of DUI in Chandler, they will typically ask the driver to submit to a chemical test to measure their blood alcohol content. In Arizona, drivers give their implied consent to BAC testing just by driving on the state’s roads. This means that if an officer has probable cause to believe you were driving under the influence, you are required to take a blood, breath, or urine test. Refusing the test will result in an automatic one-year suspension of your driver’s license.
There are three main chemical tests used to measure blood alcohol content in Arizona DUI investigations:
Let’s take a closer look at each of these BAC testing methods:
Breathalyzer tests, also known as breath tests or evidential breath tests, are the most common method used by law enforcement to measure a DUI suspect’s blood alcohol content. A breathalyzer is a portable device that measures the amount of alcohol in a person’s breath. When you blow into the mouthpiece, the device analyzes the breath sample and calculates your BAC based on the amount of alcohol detected.
In Arizona, breathalyzer tests must be conducted on a properly calibrated and certified device operated by a qualified person. The equipment must be regularly maintained and tested for accuracy. Before administering the test, the officer is required to observe you for 15-20 minutes to ensure you don’t burp, vomit, smoke, or put anything in your mouth that could contaminate the sample.
Breathalyzer results can be used as evidence of DUI in court. However, there are many potential issues that can impact the accuracy and reliability of breath test results. Breathalyzers don’t directly measure the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream but rather use a conversion ratio to estimate BAC based on the amount of alcohol in your breath. This conversion ratio assumes the same relationship between breath alcohol and blood alcohol in everyone.
However, many factors can skew this relationship, including:
Our experienced Chandler DUI defense team knows how to evaluate breathalyzer evidence for accuracy issues and effectively challenge breath test results in court. Never assume a failed breathalyzer automatically means a DUI conviction.
Blood testing is considered the “gold standard” for determining BAC in DUI cases. A blood draw is a direct measurement of the alcohol concentration in a suspect’s bloodstream. For this reason, blood test evidence is harder to challenge than breath or urine tests.
If an officer requests a blood draw, it must be conducted by a licensed phlebotomist, nurse, or other qualified professional in a medical setting. The suspect’s blood is drawn into a vial containing preservatives and anticoagulants to prevent contamination. The blood sample is then sent to a forensic lab for headspace gas chromatography analysis to determine the BAC.
Although blood testing is considered more accurate than breath or urine testing, it’s still not perfect. The sample must be drawn by a qualified person using sterile equipment and proper procedures. The sample must then be stored and transported correctly to avoid fermentation or contamination. At the lab, the sample must be analyzed using properly calibrated and maintained equipment by trained personnel.
Some potential challenges a Chandler DUI lawyer at The Molina Law Group can raise on your behalf to blood test evidence in DUI cases include:
If you’ve been arrested for DUI based on a blood test in Chandler, it’s important to have an attorney evaluate the collection and analysis procedures for any issues that could be used to suppress the BAC results. Don’t plead guilty until discussing your case with a lawyer.
Urine testing is the least common method for determining BAC in Arizona DUI cases, but it may be used if a breath or blood test is unavailable or the suspect is unable to give a breath or blood sample for medical reasons. Urine testing is considered the least reliable indicator of a person’s current level of intoxication.
When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually filtered out by the kidneys and excreted in urine. However, there can be a significant lag time between when the alcohol is consumed, when it enters the bloodstream, and when it appears in the urine. This means a urine test may detect alcohol consumed hours before the traffic stop and not reflect the suspect’s actual BAC while driving.
Urine testing is also subject to several confounding factors that can skew results:
Because of these issues, urine test evidence tends to carry less weight than breath or blood tests. However, urine test results can still potentially be used against you. If you submitted to a urine test, The Molina Law Group can review the collection and analysis procedures for issues and potentially move to suppress the results.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI in Chandler based on BAC testing, don’t face the charges alone. The skilled Chandler DUI defense team at The Molina Law Group is here to help.
Attorney Edwin A. Molina III has successfully defended clients facing a wide range of DUI charges, from first-time misdemeanors to felony DUIs. Our team understands the high stakes involved in these cases, and we will work to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
Don’t wait to get the legal representation you need and deserve. Contact The Molina Law Group today for your free, confidential case evaluation. Call (602) 718-1249 anytime, 24/7, to speak to an experienced Chandler DUI attorney. Se habla español.
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