Breath & Blood Tests

An officer only needs probable cause to pull you over as a suspect for driving while intoxicated (DWI). If you were weaving unnecessarily or breaking erratically, if your speed was inconsistent, or something similar, you could be pulled over for inspection by a police officer. If they still suspect you to be intoxicated, they may request you to perform field sobriety tests in order to provide them with further evidence that you are drunk. They may also ask you to submit to a breath- or blood-alcohol test. Should you fail any of the tests, especially those that read your blood alcohol content (BAC), the officer can make a legal DWI arrest.

Problems with the Breathalyzer

The most commonly performed BAC test is the breath test, also known as the "breathalyzer." In this test, an officer has the suspect take a deep breath and blow into a device that will read the amount of alcohol in the person's breath. This device is delicate, however, and must be properly calibrated before each use in order to produce a valid reading. The way a person breathes into the device can also affect the integrity of the reading, such whether or not they blew into the device for a long enough period of time for a reading to be taken. A person's health may even affect their reading, such as if they have a medical condition such as acid reflux, or even if they have a simple fever. The margin of error can be surprisingly large at times due to these necessary procedures. If you have been arrested because you failed a breathalyzer test, but you believe that the test was improperly administered or had a faulty reading, find out what a Houston criminal attorney could do to defend you in court.

Fight breath test results with a Houston DWI attorney!

Don't let a DWI affect your life. With the help of a DWI lawyer from the Martinez Law Firm, you may be able to lower the charges made against you, or even have them dismissed altogether. Along with being recognized as a Houston Top Lawyer and being rated as "Superb" by Avvo.com, Mr. Herman Martinez has experience as a former prosecutor, giving him an edge in defend your case from every possible angle. Each case our firm is presented with is given the detailed care and attention it deserves. As a result, you can have peace of mind knowing that your situation is in the hands of a dedicated professional.