If you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Los Angeles, there’s a good chance your case will revolve heavily around breathalyzer results. These breath tests are often treated by law enforcement and prosecutors as near-absolute proof of intoxication. However, the reality is far more complex. Breathalyzers are not infallible, and there are numerous ways they can produce inaccurate or misleading readings.
Whether due to improper calibration, user error, medical conditions, or environmental factors, breathalyzer results are far from perfect—and challenging them is a crucial part of many DUI defenses. That’s why seeking legal advice from the Los Angeles best DUI Attorney is your most powerful move after a DUI arrest. An experienced DUI lawyer understands how these devices work, where they fail, and how to dismantle the prosecution’s reliance on flawed evidence.
Why Breathalyzer Results Are Not Always Reliable?
Despite their widespread use, breathalyzers are far from scientifically flawless. They measure the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath and use that to estimate blood alcohol concentration (BAC). However, this estimation relies on several assumptions, none of which are guaranteed to be true for every individual or every situation.
For example, breathalyzer devices assume a standard body temperature, breath composition, and lung capacity across all individuals. But if you have a fever, suffer from acid reflux, diabetes, or even use certain mouthwashes, the machine may register a higher BAC than you actually have. Additionally, the timing of the breath test after alcohol consumption can influence the result. A test taken while alcohol is still being absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach may yield a false high reading.
This is where the knowledge and skills of the Los Angeles best DUI Attorney come into play. A strong defense begins with questioning the validity of the breath test—something only a seasoned legal professional with DUI expertise can do effectively.
How a DUI Attorney Challenges Faulty Breath Tests?
One of the most effective ways to fight DUI charges in Los Angeles is by attacking the reliability and admissibility of breathalyzer results. The Los Angeles best DUI Attorney will begin by examining the testing procedure. Was the machine properly maintained? Was the officer certified to use it? Was the test administered within the legally required time frame? Even one small misstep in any of these areas could invalidate the results.
In many cases, attorneys uncover gaps in the maintenance logs or training records of the arresting officer. Machines must be calibrated regularly, and failure to do so can render the readings inaccurate. If the officer failed to observe the subject for 15 minutes before administering the test—as is required to ensure there’s no mouth alcohol or burping—the results could also be thrown out.
In court, a skilled lawyer may bring in expert witnesses to challenge the science behind the breathalyzer. These experts can explain to a jury how specific medical conditions or environmental factors could have affected the test result, planting reasonable doubt about its reliability.
The Role of Medical and Physical Conditions
Another key tactic used by the Los Angeles best DUI Attorney involves investigating the client’s health. Certain medical conditions, like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), hypoglycemia, and diabetes, can produce substances in the breath that mimic alcohol and lead to falsely elevated results.
If you have any history of these conditions—or symptoms like heartburn or stomach upset at the time of arrest—your attorney can use this to argue that the breathalyzer may have picked up volatile compounds unrelated to alcohol. This can be a critical element of your defense, especially if no other strong evidence (such as erratic driving or failed field sobriety tests) supports the DUI allegation.
In these situations, a defense lawyer may obtain medical records, consult physicians, and present expert medical testimony to the court. This strategic approach can create reasonable doubt, making it much harder for prosecutors to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Issues with Portable Roadside Breath Tests
Many DUI cases begin with a roadside breath test, administered using a portable device known as a Preliminary Alcohol Screening (PAS) machine. These handheld breathalyzers are notoriously less accurate than the machines used at police stations. In California, PAS results are typically not admissible in court unless you are under 21 or on DUI probation. However, they still influence an officer’s decision to arrest.
The Los Angeles best DUI Attorney knows how to challenge these results during pre-trial motions, and may argue that the arrest was based on an unreliable device. If the arrest itself was not legally justified, then all evidence collected afterward—including any further chemical testing—may be suppressed. This kind of motion to suppress is one of the most powerful tools in a DUI defense lawyer’s arsenal.
Contesting the Arrest Process Itself
Even when breathalyzer results show BAC levels above the legal limit, that alone does not guarantee a conviction. A strong defense also focuses on whether the arresting officer had legal justification for the traffic stop and for the arrest itself. If the stop was made without probable cause—meaning the officer didn’t observe a traffic violation or erratic driving—then the entire arrest may be unlawful.
The Los Angeles best DUI Attorney will review dashcam footage, arrest reports, and any witness statements to identify any constitutional violations. This not only helps discredit the prosecution’s narrative but may also lead to the dismissal of charges altogether. Courts take unlawful searches and seizures very seriously, and if your rights were violated during the stop or arrest, all evidence—including the breathalyzer results—can be excluded from trial.
The Importance of Proper Legal Representation
Facing a DUI charge based on breathalyzer results can feel overwhelming. Prosecutors often act as though the breath test is absolute proof of guilt. But as this article shows, that is far from the truth. The reality is that breath tests can be challenged—and often successfully—when you have the right legal defense team in your corner.
The Los Angeles best DUI Attorney understands how the system works and knows how to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Whether it’s procedural errors, machine malfunctions, or health-related explanations, your attorney will use every possible angle to cast doubt on the breathalyzer results and work toward dismissal, reduction of charges, or even an acquittal at trial.
Building a Comprehensive Legal Strategy
Beating a DUI breath test result isn’t just about one argument or one motion. It’s about crafting a comprehensive legal strategy that includes scientific, legal, and procedural challenges. The best DUI attorneys do not simply react to the prosecution’s case—they build their own narrative, supported by facts, evidence, and expert testimony.
From securing a DMV hearing to protect your license, to representing you in court with persuasive arguments, the Los Angeles best DUI Attorney will manage every aspect of your defense. This holistic approach ensures that your rights are protected, and that your future isn’t defined by a single police-administered test.
Protecting Your License and Your Freedom
A DUI conviction carries more than just the threat of fines or jail time. It can lead to the loss of your driving privileges, higher insurance premiums, difficulty finding employment, and lasting damage to your reputation. Challenging the breathalyzer results is one of the most important ways to fight back against this kind of life-altering outcome.
By hiring the Los Angeles best DUI Attorney, you’re not just hiring someone to file paperwork or speak on your behalf in court. You’re gaining an advocate who understands how to expose the limitations of breath testing technology and who will fight to ensure that your case is decided on facts—not flawed machines.
Conclusion:
A breathalyzer test may seem like the final word in a DUI case—but it isn’t. Breath tests are complex, prone to error, and often misinterpreted. From improper calibration to medical interference, many factors can lead to inaccurate readings. The key to beating these results lies in a detailed, strategic defense handled by a knowledgeable professional.
If you’re facing DUI charges and breathalyzer evidence is central to your case, your best course of action is to work with the Los Angeles best DUI Attorney. With the right representation, it is absolutely possible to fight back, protect your rights, and secure the best outcome.
