Breathalyser, how do you convert to BAC?

flanum

How do you convert Breathalyser results into Blood Alcohol readings, as the law is .8mg per 100mg of blood., if somebody only got breathalysed, how would they find out how much that was in the blood thingy? is there an equation?

(edit.. i just put this in the wrong forum..oops, could somebody move it for me please, thanks.).

445279.ie

An offence of driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while there is present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that, within three hours after so driving or attempting to drive, the concentration of alcohol in your breath exceeds a concentration of 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. (Section 49(4)).

ModeSkeletor

How do they find out? Simple - they bring you to the station and take a blood or urine sample. Breathalyzer is not enough evidence to convict someone.

445279.ie

ModeSkeletor wrote: »

How do they find out? Simple - they bring you to the station and take a blood or urine sample. Breathalyzer is not enough evidence to convict someone.

Incorrect. They take you to the station and do a breathalyzer on an intoxilizer (sp) and that gives the reading

Davidius

flanum wrote: »

is there an equation?

Yes, but nobody has figured out what it is yet. I'm sure if they put funding into it they could found out easily.

ModeSkeletor

DCC160 wrote: »

Incorrect. They take you to the station and do a breathalyzer on an intoxilizer (sp) and that gives the reading

From : http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/driving-offences/drink-driving-offences-in-ireland

If you provide a sample of blood or urine the sample will be divided into two containers in your presence and sealed. You will then be offered a sample of your choice and the remaining sample will be sent to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety for analysis. The results of the test will be posted to both yourself and to the Garda concerned. You may have your own sample independently analysed if you wish. If the alcohol level is shown to be over the legal amount then the Garda will summons you to appear in the District Court to answer the charge of drunken driving.

How is what I said "incorrect"? The exact procedure outlined in my post happened to a friend of mine. Just because they may require usage of an intoxilyzer instead does NOT make my post incorrect. Go take a course in basic english. Not all stations have intoxilyzers, actually as far as I know only a select few around the country do. Handheld intoxilyzers are not enough evidence for a conviction, so it is actually you who is incorrect.

rainbowtrout

flanum wrote: »

is there an equation?

I bet you're sorry you asked now


http://science.howstuffworks.com/breathalyzer3.htm

445279.ie

ModeSkeletor wrote: »

From : http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/travel-and-recreation/motoring-1/driving-offences/drink-driving-offences-in-ireland



How is what I said "incorrect"? The exact procedure outlined in my post happened to a friend of mine. Just because they may require usage of an intoxilyzer instead does NOT make my post incorrect. Go take a course in basic english. Not all stations have intoxilyzers, actually as far as I know only a select few around the country do. Handheld intoxilyzers are not enough evidence for a conviction, so it is actually you who is incorrect.

You said it was not enough to convict someone. That's the part that was incorrect.

The intoxilyzer is the first option. If you cannot give a breath sample because of a medical condition, then they take blood or urine.

ModeSkeletor

It wasn't incorrect because I was not referring to a handheld intoxilyzer (which IS NOT enough to convict someone). The device you are referring to is a larger computer-like device held in SOME garda stations around the country.

445279.ie

Thought you were referring to hand held one.

The intoxlyzers are in the larger stations only, I agree

flanum

yeah, it was the big white one in the cop shop i had to blow into.

Sherifu

DCC160 wrote: »

An offence of driving or attempting to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place while there is present in your body a quantity of alcohol such that, within three hours after so driving or attempting to drive, the concentration of alcohol in your breath exceeds a concentration of 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. (Section 49(4)).

That doesn't mean they have to wait 3 hours to test you I assume

445279.ie

Sherifu wrote: »

That doesn't mean they have to wait 3 hours to test you I assume

No, they have to observe you for 30 minutes before you take the breathalyzer in the station

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

445279.ie

The Scientist wrote: »

Is everyone gettin bagged today or what?

Don't know but it's the first choice. As far as I know you can only opt for blood or urine if you have a medical condition preventing you from using the breathilyzer eg asthma