Can You Beat the Breathalyzer?

If you ever suspected driving under the influence of alcohol and pulled over by police, you may be given a Breathalyzer test, which will be used to determine the concentration level of alcohol in the bloodstream. This device is used by law enforcement, is portable, fairly accurate, and gives results almost instantly.

Given the consequences drivers face if they fail such a test, there are questions that often arise between individuals who are concerned about the possibility of being caught drinking and driving, is there a way to fool the Breathalyzer into showing a lower reading?

Listed below are some myths and facts about trying to beat the Breathalyzer.

Myth: Sucking on the money. Most people know that sucking on a penny, or the type of change, do not cheat to a Breathalyzer register falsely low blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Even the ridiculous is that people who believe in regard cents trick works because the high copper concentration cents. Penny has been made of 97.5% zinc since the 1980s.

Myth: Breath Mints. Misguided notion that the smell of alcohol alcohol itself is the same as fuel unreasonable belief that breath fresheners can fool a breath analysis test. All gums, candies and sprays do is cover up the smell of alcohol on the breath, they do not change the alcohol content of breath is also not affect the chemical reactions used to determine the amount of alcohol present. All breath fresheners that can be done, especially desserts, are probably increase the amount of mouth alcohol registered. Although breath analysis tests have a way to distinguish mouth alcohol from the lungs of alcohol, the last thing someone who wants to do is increase the BAC reading.

Myth: belching. Many police officers believe that the Breathalyzer results can be compromised if the subject belches while being tested, because the increase in mouth alcohol caused by the wind. This belief is more fiction than fact. According to the year 1992 the University of Wisconsin study, belching had no effect on breath analysis test results even when subjects belched directly into the instrument.

Myth: Clothing and Feces. Yuck! Almost went without saying that both consumption and feces underwear can fool the Breathalyzer registered a lower BAC, but it is interesting to note that people have tried it both ways. A 28-year-Canadian man who was stopped on suspicion of drunk driving ate the crotch of his underwear, believing that it will absorb the excess alcohol in the system. Another Canadian driver tried to foil a Breathalyzer test by eating his own feces. Whether it does not work or have the opposite effect and increase the BAC reading. Register machine BAC more than twice the legal limit.

Myth: Zima. Alcohol in the sweet, pale, malt liquor beverage was not considered to be detected by a breath analysis machine. Zima leaves little breath alcohol, although containing more alcohol as a normal beer, so people (usually teens who drank the stuff) believed that alcohol can not be detected by a Breathalyzer. Like breath fresheners, odor of alcohol, although still not there.

That's a lot of myths. Factual How to reduce a BAC reading?

Fact: hyperventilation. Breathalyzer results will vary depending on the breathing pattern of people being tested. In one study, subjects drank moderate amounts of alcohol after their BAC level was measured by gas chromatography analysis of their breath. Then they took breath analysis tests using various breathing patterns. When the subjects held their breath for 30 seconds before exhaling, their BAC readings increased more than 15%. When they hyperventilated for 20 seconds immediately before taking the tests, their BAC readings decreased more than ten percent.

On the other hand, shortness of breath can make you dizzy and affect your performance on other common roadside drunk test, like walking in a straight line or balancing on one leg.

This is just a small handful of "beat the Breathalyzer" tales. What is the moral to this tale most? If you think you can fool Breathalyzer, you might just fool yourself. If you really want to beat the breathalyzer, just do not drink and drive, and you'll have nothing to worry about.