The police have several methods to confirm whether a driver is drunk. The police may begin by questioning whether a driver had been drinking. They may even ask drivers to perform physical exercises called field sobriety tests to help the police spot signs of inebriation.
Alternatively, the police may ask drivers to submit to a chemical sobriety test. A chemical sobriety test evaluates a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC). BAC is the amount of alcohol that is in a person’s body. If their BAC level exceeds standard levels, the driver may be charged with drunk driving. There are three different chemical sobriety tests. Some of these tests are not as accurate as others. Here is what you should know:
The 3 different kinds of chemical sobriety tests
If a driver is asked to take a chemical sobriety test, they may be given an option to choose which test they take. Here is how the three chemical sobriety tests work:
- Chemical urine test: The driver may relocate to a hospital or police station to give a urine sample. The urine sample is tested to see the driver’s alcohol level.
- Chemical blood test: Similarly to a chemical urine test, the driver submits a blood sample at a police station or hospital, which tests the driver’s BAC levels.
- Chemical breath test: The police can carry a small device with them that looks like a radio but tests the driver’s breath. The driver blows into a breath test for several seconds. Once completed, the machine will display the driver’s BAC levels. Drivers typically can take breath tests without moving to a different location.
Out of the three tests, chemical blood tests are frequently the most accurate. However, any of these tests can still be inaccurate. Drivers need to be aware of their legal rights if they suspect a chemical sobriety test led to false drunk driving charges.
