One of the ways the state of Georgia can convict a person of driving under the influence is by proving that the driver had a 0.08 grams or more blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving or otherwise being in control of a vehicle.

In Georgia, the Intoxilyzer 5000 is the current breath-testing machine used to detect whether or not a person has been drinking or is over the current legal limit of 0.08. Before you are arrested for a DUI, one of the methods an officer will use to determine your guilt is by administering this breath test. If you refuse to take the breath test your driver’s license will automatically be suspended (although there is a way to fight the license suspension – click on link for more).

While the Intoxilyzer 5000 is a sophisticated test, it comes with many design flaws that can potentially help your case if you are convicted with a DUI.

The Intoxilyzer 5000 can result in inaccurate readings if the driver suffers from a variety of illnesses, including diabetes, esophageal hernia, heartburn, gum disease, respiratory problems, and liver disease. Because the Intoxilyzer 5000 also has problems determining whether the alcohol it is measuring is from the driver’s mouth or actually in the bloodstream, if the driver had been chewing certain gum, had tobacco products, breath mints, denture adhesives, or had taken cough syrup before driving, the results are faulty. These inaccuracies are even more significant when drivers are under the age of 21 and could be arrested with a BAC as low as .02% or higher.

The accuracy of the Intoxilyzer 5000 is also dependent on the competency of the police officer administering it. Many officers have not been formally trained in using the Intoxilyzer 5000, and most are given only minimal training. The extent of the arresting officer’s training should always be questioned in court.

Illnesses, potential of alternative forms of alcohol in your mouth, and the arresting officer’s training are all significant factors that could lead to inaccuracies in your DUI case. An experienced DUI attorney can help locate these inaccuracies and save you from a DUI conviction. If you have been arrested for driving under the influence and would like to speak with an experienced DUI attorney, please fill out the Free Case Review form found on this website.