Devices Used for Breath Tests: Are They Accurate?

Oklahoma law enforcement officers administer breath tests to suspected drunk drivers, but the accuracy of those tests has been questioned repeatedly. Determining whether breath tests are accurate requires an understanding of what device is used, how it works, how it is maintained, and how tests are administered. The breathalyzer used in Oklahoma is called the Intoxilyzer 8000, an older model in use for over 10 years in the state. Breathalyzers like the 8000 work on a light absorption theory. You breathe into the end of the device and your breath is captured in a chamber. A light bulb that emits infrared...

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