Chemical Testing in California Drunk Driving Cases
In California, all three chemical tests are used (blood, breath,and urine). Urine testing is used to determine drug levels present in a DUI suspect’s system. A person arrested for DUI has the choice of whether they will submit to a breath test or a blood test if suspected of impairment by alcohol, or blood or urine if suspected of impairment by drugs.
Independent testing: A DUI suspect is permitted to have an independent test performed at his/her own expense, or have an additional test be performed at his/her own expense.
Breath testing: Both portable breath testing as well as evidentiary breath testing is done in California. Several different evidentiary breath testing machines are used in California. Which machine will be used in your case will depend on where you are pulled over for DUI, and which police station you are taken to. The following machines are used in California: The BAC DataMaster (Los Angeles County), the Intox EC/IR (Los Angeles), the Draeger Alcotest 7110 (San Bernardino and Riverside County), the Draeger Alcotest 7410 (Orange County), the Intoxilizer 5000 (Long Beach), the Intoxilizer 8000 (San Diego). All breath testing machines work basically the same way – a suspect will blow into the machine and a reading printout indicating the suspect’s BAC will be provided. Breath testing is the most commonly used chemical test in DUI cases, but it is also the most unreliable way to measure BAC. Experienced DUI defense attorneys know how to attack the credibility of the machine’s results. If you have been arrested for DUI and you provided a breath sample, contact one of our pre-screened DUI defense attorney’s in your area.
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