If you are pulled over by the police and your blood alcohol is greater than .08, it is very likely you will be arrested for DUI.
Both have severe consequences and can be extremely expensive and painful to deal with. Some penalties include the loss of your driver’s license, required alcohol classes, thousands of dollars in fines and extensive time in court or with lawyers.
Fortunately, there are a lot of smart phone breathalyzer apps out on the market today that you can purchase to ensure you are being safe behind the wheel. If you have ever wondered whether you are under the legal limit when you set foot behind the wheel, these apps can help you!
Most smart phone breathalyzer apps record your blood alcohol concentration to a very close degree and may not be entirely accurate, but will help you to discern whether it is safe to drive. A lot of the apps also have features that help you call a taxi (so you don’t drive drunk), find a hotel or even help you find a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat!
Most models also recommend that you wait 15-20 minutes after drinking to test your BAC to make sure the reading is accurate. It takes time for the body to process alcohol, so always take caution when finishing a drink and then getting on the road.
Here are three of the best smart phone breathalyzer apps on the market so you can invest in being safe behind the wheel this summer!
-
Alcohoot
Alcohoot is “a Smart Alcohol tracker designed to take the guesswork out of how your body responds to alcohol over the course of a night out with friends, or even a year.” It is palm sized and has high grade technology that is compatible with both iPhones and Androids. Unlike other smart phone breathalyzer apps, it plugs into the headphone jack on any device and has a compatible app to accompany the sleek breathalyzer.
The Alcohoot app is handy because it tracks more than just your BAC, taking into consideration your body and your processes such as sleep, food, time and your age. It also, connects with taxis in the area. You can even use it to link up to ride sharing with Uber or Lyft. The app additionally shows walkable restaurants in the area so you can continue drinking or sober up with some food.
Prices for the tracker range from $20.00 to $100.00. You must also send your tracker in on a yearly basis for a $30.00 recalibration fee to ensure it is remaining accurate for you.
BACtrack is another smartphone breathalyzer with good reviews. It also includes functionality called ZeroLine that estimates the time when you are most likely to sober up, based on your last reading. This app also connects with Apple Health and Apple Watch.
There are two price points for the BACtrack. The more affordable option is the BACtrack Vio and it is $49.00, comes with a AAA battery, a compact keychain design with flip up mouthpiece, the MicroCheck sensor, washable mouthpiece and the app.
The BACtrack Mobile Pro is $99.99 and has a “police-grade Xtend Fuel Cell Sensor”, a lithium ion rechargeable battery and a miniature air pump for the most precise breath sample. It is also compatible with your smartphone and includes access to the app.
-
DrinkMate
The DrinkMate claims to be “the smallest, most convenient breathalyzer in the world.” It plugs directly into your iPhone or Android device and comes at a very affordable cost. This product was crowdfunded on Kickstarter and has over 4,500 backers.
Prices for the DrinkMate are $34.99 for both Android and iPhone. That price includes the DrinkMate attachment for your phone, a keychain carrying case and information & warranty brochure. Any Android device must have a Micro USB port and it works with any iPhone that has a lightning connector.
As stated before, it is better safe than sorry! These apps enable you to make smarter choices about drinking and driving. No matter what, with or without a portable breathalyzer app, please drink responsibly. Even if you are under the legal BAC, you may not be sober enough to drive. So, take the readings with a grain of salt and always take caution when drinking and driving.
Drinking and driving is a very serious issue. If you or a loved one has been caught drinking and driving or been charged with a DUI, give Matthew Lopez Law, PLLC a call. Matt can help guide you through the legal process and will use all his resources to resolve the issue as quickly and painlessly as possible.
