Although Americans have been consuming alcohol for centuries, it wasn’t until automobiles became relatively widespread that drinking and driving became a serious problem. The breathalyzer was invented a short while later, and the results are used to convict motorists of driving under the influence. Their readings are not always accurate, and a DUI defense attorney can help you challenge the results if you feel you’ve been wrongfully charged with drunk driving. 

Early Breathalyzer Devices 

Francis Edmund Anstie was the first known physician who observed that alcohol was present in the breath even after people stopped drinking. He recorded his observations as early as 1874. It wasn’t until 1936, however, that the first practical device for testing a subject’s blood alcohol concentration was patented. Known as the Drunkometer, this device required subjects to breathe into a balloon. The air was then pumped into a solution of acidified potassium permanganate that changed color in the presence of alcohol.

In 1941, the Intoximeter was invented. This device was smaller than the Drunkometer and easier to use for roadside testing. It also relied on a potassium permanganate solution to identify impairment. That same year also saw the invention of the Alcometer. This device relied on the reaction of iodine vapour, starch, and potassium iodide with alcohol to identify impairment.

Today’s Breathalyzer Device 

The breathalyzers that DUI defense attorneys often challenge today hail from a device invented in 1954. The modern breathalyzer was developed by Professor Robert F. Borkenstein. It relies on photometry and chemical oxidation to identify alcohol in a subject’s breath.

Because it demands considerably less skill to operate than earlier devices—which were essentially portable laboratories—it was quickly adopted by law enforcement personnel around the country. While the devices may provide enough cause to warrant an arrest, they are sometimes not calibrated frequently enough to provide evidentiary support in court.

Despite the many advancements in breathalyzer technology, they’re not foolproof, and challenging their results is a common DUI defense strategy. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, trust Pearce Law Firm in Foley, AL, to determine if this approach will work for you. This practice has been serving clients across Baldwin County for the past 15 years. Their team practices bankruptcy law and criminal defense with a commitment to providing clients with attentive and hassle-free counsel and tailored legal solutions. To request a consultation, reach out online, or call (251) 971-2676.