Maryland Criminal Attorney Blog
Breathalyzer machines, commonly used by Maryland police, detect and measure the alcohol present in air that is breathed out. During the consuption of alcohol, the alcohol crosses from the intestine into the bloodstream. When the blood circulating around the body gets to the lungs, some of the alcohol in the blood crosses into the air contained in the tiny sacs of the lungs. This same air, that is breathed out of the lung, contains alcohol that can be measured by breathalyzer machines.
Researchers have determined the ratio of breath alcohol to blood alcohol. The test result for a breathalyzer estimates the concentration of alcohol in the blood. Although different individuals have some variation, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is approximately 2,300 times greater than breath alcohol concentration. Breath-alcohol analysis is fast and easy to use, unlike the more reliable blood test. This makes the Breathalyzer breath-test machine a useful tool of choice for Maryland police to monitor drunk drivers.
If a person’s BAC measures 0.10, it means that there are 0.10 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. According to the American Medical Association, a person can become impaired when the BAC hits 0.05. The legal standard for drunkenness in Maryland is 0.08.
Skilled and experienced defense attorneys are familar with the use of these machines and the nuances which can cause an innacurate breathalyzer reading. Often the machine is broken, not properly calibrated, or the associated paperwork is not properly completed by the officer.
For more information on drunk driving defenses in maryland, please contact the experienced lawyers at our firm or call 410-385-2225.