IS IT POSSIBLE TO FOOL A BREATHALYZER TEST?
February 19, 2018
There have always been questions about being able to trick a Breathalyzer test. These questions would answer age-old concerns about whether or not a Breathalyzer could be wrong in a number of circumstances. If you’re a person who wants to know if you can trick a Breathalyzer, here are a few facts to know.
Mouthwash doesn’t help lower your blood alcohol concentration
The truth is that some mouthwash actually has alcohol in it, and that alcohol can give a false positive reading. So, in reality, you are tricking the Breathalyzer, but not in the way you want.
Breathalyzers work on all people, even smokers
Some people believe that if they smoke, they’ll be less likely to be found over the limit by a Breathalyzer. That’s false. In truth, the acetaldehyde in a cigarette doesn’t throw off a professional grade Breathalyzer.
Breathalyzer tests can read your breath whether you blow hard or not
Professional Breathalyzer tests can read even a small sample of your breath, so holding your breath or blowing softer in hopes that it won’t set off the test isn’t a good way to beat the test.
In reality, it’s extremely hard to trick a Breathalyzer unless you want to make it read positive. To avoid a DUI, the best option is to avoid driving when you’ve had a few drinks. It’s better to call a taxi, get a ride with a friend or walk home than to get caught behind the wheel and hope you can beat the system. If you are stopped for drunk driving, be prepared to defend yourself in court.
Source: BACTrack, “Can You Trick a Breathalyzer?,” accessed Nov. 16, 2017