If you’re pulled over for drunk driving in New Hampshire, the police officer may ask you to take a breath alcohol test to check whether your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit of 0.08. Knowing how a New Hampshire breath alcohol test works can help you understand why you may want to opt for a blood test instead.
A breath test can detect alcohol because alcohol enters the blood without being changed chemically. As the alcohol-containing blood goes through your lungs, the alcohol evaporates into the air going in and out of your lungs. The breath test reads this evaporated alcohol. Most of the evaporated alcohol in your breath comes from the bottom of the lungs, so a breath sample based on a deep breath and blowing for an extended period to get all the air out of the lungs is required for an accurate BAC reading.
According to New Hampshire law, anyone with a New Hampshire license is considered to have given “implied consent” to a chemical test to check their BAC. A chemical test may be a blood, breath, or urine test. If you refuse to take any of these three options, your license may be suspended.
Breath tests are not the most reliable means of checking your blood alcohol content, but many police organizations rely on them because they are quick and do not require collecting bodily fluids like blood or urine. If you have been charged with a DWI in New Hampshire and you suspect your BAC reading was incorrect, the skilled and knowledgeable New Hampshire drunk driving lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Call Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at (888) 332-5855 for a confidential and free case evaluation.