DUI Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ

Are you facing the results of a failed breath test?

If an officer pulls you over on suspicion of drunk driving, it is likely that you will be asked to submit to several different tests to help determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). These can include something as simple as a field sobriety test on the spot and something as complex as a blood test performed in a lab. One of the most popularly used, however, is that of a breath test. If you submit without question, you will be asked to blow into a small machine

If it is determined that your BAC is over the legal limit of 0.08, you will be criminally charged with driving under the influence. Even if your BAC is below that, however, you will be at risk of facing criminal charges if you showed signs of impairment. Many people view a failed breath test as insurmountable evidence in their case. This, however, is completely untrue. In fact, the breath test is subject to error and by working with an experienced criminal defense lawyer you will be able to attack the actual test to help protect your interests. Common sources of errors in the breath test include the following:

Calibration - These machines are delicate and sensitive to substances tainting their results. For this reason, mandatory maintenance on the machines is required to ensure that they are continually operating in prime condition. On a regular schedule, these machines need to be calibrated to check and test their settings - and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that they are accurate. This will also be done to check any contamination of the machine.
Extenuating factors - There are certain outside factors that can cause the machine to pick up on compounds that it believes to be alcohol. This can lead to a high readout for someone who has not even had a drink of alcohol. For instance, a diabetic could cause a false reading because of high level of acetone in their system.
Alcohol pre-existing in the mouth - Sometimes, the machine will pick up on alcohol on the breath that has nothing to do with the level of impairment of the driver. For instance, if the driver had just taken a swig of mouthwash or had just recently had a light amount of alcohol, there could still be traces of it in the mouth itself that could skew the readout that is meant to read alcohol that is solely in the breath.

Reliable Phoenix DUI Defense Attorney

Facing a DUI is not a simple matter. It, in fact, can be extremely frightening and can cause extreme issues with your future. When this occurs, you need to be confident that you are working with a lawyer that you can trust to do what is necessary to help you protect your legal rights. You can be sure that this is exactly what you will receive should you choose to be represented by an attorney from the Knowles Law Firm.

Led by attorney Anthony Knowles, who has previous experience as a law enforcement officer, their legal team has the extensive experience and knowledge that you deserve as you move forward in your case. They are deeply invested in the outcome of your case and will therefore do everything that they can to help you as you work to defend your best interests. You are not just a number to them - you are an important individual and will be treated as such.

Please feel free to contact a Phoenix DUI attorney today if you have questions regarding breath tests and what can be done to help defend your freedom.