When figures of authority pull over drivers in New York on suspicion of DUI, they will likely want to check your blood alcohol content (BAC) level. There are many tools they can use to do this. Among the most accurate is the blood alcohol test. A sample of your blood is taken and tested in a lab for traces of alcohol. However, while this test is considered very reliable, that does not make it infallible.
Human error is often a risk with the accuracy of any BAC testing, and blood alcohol tests are no exception. For example, there have been cases in which one person’s test results were mixed up with another. It is also possible for the blood samples to get mixed up. Additionally, if the samples are left out for too long, blood can coagulate and throw off the results of the test. It is not unheard of for samples to become contaminated before or during the testing process, either.
Additionally, due to the time it takes alcohol to enter the bloodstream from the stomach and liver, your test results may not reflect your true BAC level while driving. Depending on how long it took you to get your blood drawn after being pulled over, your tested BAC level may have risen since you were behind the wheel. This is important to consider, especially if your BAC level results are just slightly over the legal limit.
If you are curious to read more about the potential consequences of driving while under the influence, visit our web page on criminal defense. You can read more about DUI-related charges, the potential consequences for conviction and more.