On top of the body processing some of the alcohol in the time between the field test and the final test, the field test is usually not accurate enough to be accepted by the court for conviction. It’s just one piece of the probable cause used to arrest a suspect and bring them to the police station or jail where the larger, more accurate machine can get a result that’s usable at trial.
It’s important the the test field test be fairly accurate right around the legal limit. At much higher numbers, it’s fine for it to be pretty far off because the suspect is definitely getting arrested at that point.
I could imagine they tune that field test to err high so they can have probable cause. If it isn’t accepted as proof anyway, why make it highly accurate. I guess the people who say never agree to a breathalyzer test during a traffic stop are probably right.
It’s not a discrepancy, alcohol is processed over time. It’s her body working through the stuff in the ~30 mins or so that it presumably took to get to booking her. Yeah we can assume the levels aren’t 100% accurate but this tech is decades old so probably pretty close. There are many problems with policing; imo this isn’t one of them.
Once the cops have someone on a DUI pulled over, its probably a relief to see them blow something so high because they know they have enough time to get to the precinct for further tests.
I’ve read that those portable tests on the scene aren’t super accurate. Another commentor said they aren’t generally acceptable as proof of DUI in the courts either. None of this is solid fact from research though.
I mean sure but not that much, afaik the tests at the scene (for BAC, not the subjective tests) are pretty solid as far as evidence goes. In this case it probably mattered even less, blowing a .25 equates to looking pretty fucking smashed for most people so the test is basically just checking a box lmao
No the roadside tests are bad. They’re not very accurate, which is why you should always refuse to give one roadside. Wait until you’re at the police station.
But also, holy shit what a discrepancy in readings. They are off by .06, which is almost the legal limit. Wtf.
On top of the body processing some of the alcohol in the time between the field test and the final test, the field test is usually not accurate enough to be accepted by the court for conviction. It’s just one piece of the probable cause used to arrest a suspect and bring them to the police station or jail where the larger, more accurate machine can get a result that’s usable at trial.
It’s important the the test field test be fairly accurate right around the legal limit. At much higher numbers, it’s fine for it to be pretty far off because the suspect is definitely getting arrested at that point.
I could imagine they tune that field test to err high so they can have probable cause. If it isn’t accepted as proof anyway, why make it highly accurate. I guess the people who say never agree to a breathalyzer test during a traffic stop are probably right.
It’s not a discrepancy, alcohol is processed over time. It’s her body working through the stuff in the ~30 mins or so that it presumably took to get to booking her. Yeah we can assume the levels aren’t 100% accurate but this tech is decades old so probably pretty close. There are many problems with policing; imo this isn’t one of them.
Once the cops have someone on a DUI pulled over, its probably a relief to see them blow something so high because they know they have enough time to get to the precinct for further tests.
I’ve read that those portable tests on the scene aren’t super accurate. Another commentor said they aren’t generally acceptable as proof of DUI in the courts either. None of this is solid fact from research though.
I mean sure but not that much, afaik the tests at the scene (for BAC, not the subjective tests) are pretty solid as far as evidence goes. In this case it probably mattered even less, blowing a .25 equates to looking pretty fucking smashed for most people so the test is basically just checking a box lmao
No the roadside tests are bad. They’re not very accurate, which is why you should always refuse to give one roadside. Wait until you’re at the police station.