Officers who pull Arizona drivers over on suspicion of driving under the influence will likely administer tests. These tests will determine your blood alcohol content (BAC) levels. Though breath tests are the most well-known, they are not touted as the most accurate. That honor goes to blood tests. But just how accurate are blood tests?
Blood tests involve drawing a sample of your blood to test in a lab. The result will show how high your BAC levels are. While there is a little less room for errors with this than with breath tests, that does not mean it is completely error-free. In fact, many different factors not related to alcohol use can result in a high BAC level. For example, health conditions or even your diet can affect your BAC level. People with high ketones or diabetes have high ratings. So does anyone on cough or cold medicine. Even a cough drop can leave traces of alcohol in the blood.
Speaking of your blood, it takes a while for alcohol to seep from your stomach and liver into your bloodstream. There have been instances in which a person’s BAC was over the limit at the time a lab technician drew blood. However, because of the way alcohol distributes through the body, it may have actually been below the limit at the time they were driving.
Are you curious to read more about DUI and OUI laws in Arizona? Consider visiting our linked web page if so. You can read about the laws, related penalties, and what can happen when someone takes a blood alcohol test.
Author Bio
Matthew L. Lopez
Matthew L. Lopez is the Managing Attorney and founder of Matthew Lopez Law, a criminal defense and DUI firm serving clients throughout Arizona. His track record of case dismissals and charge reductions has earned him honors, including a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 nomination, a “Superb” 10/10 Avvo rating, and a Rising Star designation by Super Lawyers.
Matthew is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and holds active memberships with the Arizona Association for Criminal Justice and the Arizona Association for Justice. His firm handles criminal defense, DUI, drug charges, and traffic offenses, offering free consultations and affordable payment plans to make quality defense accessible to all Arizonans.
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Lake Havasu City
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Apache Junction
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