Evidential Breath Testing Devices

 

Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is illegal across the entire United States, with different laws governing each of the 50 states. Anyone pulled over by a police officer for suspicion of DUI or DWI will be issued a breath test by the officer on the spot or after being arrested at the police station. The devices used by police departments will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but most departments supply their officers with portable breathalyzer tests to use on the road during traffic stops. These officers are instructed to use the devices when there is suspicion that a driver they have pulled over could be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

 

E-PAS Breathalyzer Test

 

The most common type of evidential breath testing devices on the market today is the E-PAS breathalyzer device. The E-PAS is a portable device that is carried in the cruisers of most police officers across the country today. This device is handheld, can be used multiple times in one day, and is almost 100 percent accurate. E-PAS stands for Evidential Portable Alcohol System and this device can be admissible in court, which means that offenders of DUI laws do not have to take another test when booked at the police station. If you will be required to take any additional tests, the arresting officer is required to inform you of those extra tests.

 

Intoxilyzer 5000

 

The Intoxilyzer 5000 is one of the most popular breath testing devices used by police officers today, installed in police departments across the country. These devices cost roughly $7,500 apiece, which means departments will need to have enough room in their budget to purchase one of these machines. This device works using very old technology, dating back to 1975, which causes some DUI lawyers to argue that the technology does not work any longer.

 

This machine operates using infrared absorption using a light bulb attached to one end of a breath capture cylinder. The other end of the breath capture cylinder has wheels attached to it and then on the other side of the filter wheels there is a light receiver. The person in question, who is already in custody because the machine is at the police station, will have to breathe into a breathing tube. The air is then sent into the air chamber and analyzed using light. The light and the breath from the person’s system will be analyzed and multiplied to figure out what the person’s Blood Alcohol Content level is in relation to .08.

 

EC/IR Breath Test

 

The EC/IR breath test device is used in roughly 10 percent of the states in this country, which means that it has not taken on as much popularity as its predecessors even though it is more accurate than its predecessors. This breathing device uses two separate methods of testing a suspect’s breath for too much alcohol. Those two methods include EC (electrochemical or fuel cell) and IR (infrared technology). This makes for much more successful tests issued by police officers because two methods are being used at once.

 

Draeger Breath Test Device

 

The Draeger breath test device is another portable, hand held breath test used by thousands of police departments across the country today. This device is very easy to use, easy to assemble, and have been approved for use in private homes. The suspect’s breath is sampled using a microprocessor, which then analyzes the breath for any alcohol present. If the alcohol has reached .08 or higher, the machine will show text messages on the screen showing the BAC. There are also 3 LED lights in the machine also help the operator use the machine easier than some other breath testing devices.

 

BAC Datamaster

 

The BAC Datamaster, like the Intoxilyzer 5000, is a computer machine used by police officers across the country in their police departments. These computers cost roughly $7,000 and require the suspect to blow into a breathing tube in order for their breath to be analyzed and tested for alcohol. Each suspect is required to blow into the breathing tube twice, with a control test occurring in between the first and second test using a 1:10 ratio of water to alcohol. The test results should come out to .90 and .110 to prove that the machine is working properly.