A roadside breath test procedure is customary for police to make sure that the roads are safe. This procedure may help decrease the chances of roadside accidents. Sometimes, there are certain checkpoints wherein drivers must submit to a breath test. Traditionally, police officers usually stop drivers that may be driving suspiciously dangerous. If you get pulled over, the first thing to do is remain calm and cooperate. Refusing to take a police breath test is a severe offence.
During a roadside breath test procedure, the police will ask you to give a breath sample by blowing into a breath screening device or a breathalyzer. A breath screening device can detect alcohol in a person’s breath, but it does not fully measure it. If the breath screening device registers positive, the police will ask for your breath sample through a breathalyzer. A breathalyzer measures a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) through the breath. The BAC is expressed in percentage, proportional to the percentage of alcohol in the breath. Devices like BACtrack personal breathalyzers and law enforcement breathalyzers use an electrochemical process for the results. This process accurately measures the breath sample and translates it into a corresponding BAC reading. The BAC results on the screen represent the alcohol content in your bloodstream. The higher your BAC, the more intoxicated you are.
Roadside Breath Test Procedure: BAC Driving Limit
Australia maintains an alcohol limit of 0.05% BAC. Your BAC must not go beyond 0.05% in the roadside breath test procedure. If you are a novice (probationary) driver or under an alcohol interlock program, your alcohol limit is 0.00%. This limit means that you cannot drive even if you’ve only had half a glass. If you have a full license and your BAC is under 0.05%, you can move on with your journey. However, if you fail the breath alcohol test, they can detain you and require you to comply with a breath analysis test or a blood test at a testing centre or police station. The results from these tests will be the evidence the judge will look at when determining your penalty.
Depending on your driver’s license and BAC level, you can face criminal charges, hefty fines, driving disqualification, and imprisonment terms. Avoid complications during a roadside breath test procedure by measuring your BAC beforehand through a personal breathalyzer. Use the BACtrack fuel cell breathalyzer to measure your blood alcohol content accurately. These BACtrack personal devices use the same technology you can find in a police officer’s breathalyzer. Additionally, BACtrack can also help you estimate the time it takes for your BAC to return to 0.00%. For the most accurate BAC readings with effective tracking, you can rely on BACtrack personal breathalyzers.
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