Many people have bought personal breath testing machines that they carry in the car or keep in the house. Whenever they have a doubt about whether they are legally able to drive after consuming alcohol, they turn to this to guide them.
While these machines can be useful, they are not something you should risk your license over. Too many drivers have been charged with DUI after getting into their cars when they believed it was fine to do so.
Small margins matter
Small margins can matter when it comes to DUI testing. Test just under the legal limit, and the police will likely send you on your way. Test just over, and you’ll be arrested and if found guilty, you could face a host of long-term consequences.
Therefore, it is essential that you don’t rely on readings from a personal testing device that likely lacks the necessary level of accuracy that the police tests have. Machines need regular calibration, too. If you have not had time to do this, it could tell you that you are in safe territory when you are not.
Arrests are not always about the numbers
You do not have to read over the limit to get arrested or be found guilty of drunk driving. The law allows officers to make an arrest when they have probable cause to believe a driver is impaired by alcohol, regardless of whether or not they are over the legal limit. When you consider that even one drink might lead you to feel more relaxed or even a little lightheaded on occasions, it’s no surprise that there will also be a negative effect on your driving that an officer might notice and determine that you should be arrested
If you do find yourself facing a DUI charge, it’s important to remember that you may have options to fight the charge. With appropriate legal guidance, you can determine how best to proceed.
