1. Testing for Intoxication

2. Breath Testing A device for measuring the alcohol content of alveolar breath. Rapid and accurate results

3. Breath-Test instruments Breathalyzer developed in 1954 Breathalyzer has been phased out and replaced Ratio of alcohol in the blood to alcohol in alveolar breath is 2100 to 1 Infrared and fuel cell detectors No chemicals Microprocessor controlled

4. Considerations in Breath Testing Unit is programmed to accept no less then 1.1 – 1.5 liters of breath Blow for a minimum time at a minimum rate Slope detector – ensures that the breath sample is alveolar or deep-lung breath Mouth alcohol – from vomiting, belching, or recent intake of an alcoholic beverage, or alcohol containing mouthwash Nothing can be in the person’s mouth 15-20 minutes before testing

5. Analysis of Blood Alcohol Blood is drawn using a non-alcohol disinfectant Sealed in an airtight container Add anticoagulant – keeps blood from clotting Add preservative – inhibits the growth of microorganisms Must be kept cold to keep alcohol level from dropping Must be stored for only a short period of time

6. Collecting blood postmortem Collect a number of blood samples from different body sites All the blood alcohol levels should be the same Collect urine and vitreous humor as well because they do not suffer from postmortem ethyl alcohol production

7. Alcohol and the Law Current blood-concentration standard for intoxication is 0.08 Per se laws – any individual exceeding a defined blood-alcohol level 0.08 shall be deemed intoxicated Implied consent law – prevent a person from refusing to take a test on constitutional grounds. Must consent to a test for alcohol intoxication or lose their license.