breathalyzers

[buttercup]

I'm thinking of buying a personal breathalyzer. does anyone have experience of these? what type? pitfalls? things not mentioned in the adverts?

Also, is it possible to purchase a direct blood testing version? I'm thinking of something that takes a pinprick of blood, like a blood-sugar analyzer? I haven't seen one advertised.

 

[night ride]

I'm against drunk driving, but would like to be able to drink and drive within the legal limits. It is too bad these machines never gained widespread use.

 

[Aardvark154]

It is too bad these machines never gained widespread use.

One difficulty is that the term breathalyzer is used for many different types of machines (some made by Breathalyzer, others not) some are admissable in the U.S., others are not. Typically there are fixed protocalls involving wait periods before testing etc. . .

For personal use, particuarly if one does not use it to attempt to "cruise right up to the limit" one of the handheld devices would probably be ok.

 

[Aardvark154]

I have had 3, for fun one night a bunch of us did calibration testing - using ourselves and shot of scotch and time - an no we didnt drive anywhere.

They are not very accurate, how you exhale , how long you hold your breath in and the temperature of the unit all come into play. They are also prone to getting "spitty" and nasty. Theres not enough resistance when blowing to take a reasonably accurate reading.

However, I rather doubt the op really wants to purchase an Intoxilyzer 5000 or Intoxilyzer 8000 all of his own.

 

[nottyboi]

I have had 3, for fun one night a bunch of us did calibration testing - using ourselves and shot of scotch and time - an no we didnt drive anywhere.

They are not very accurate, how you exhale , how long you hold your breath in and the temperature of the unit all come into play. They are also prone to getting "spitty" and nasty. Theres not enough resistance when blowing to take a reasonably accurate reading.

Same with the ones the police use. How you breathe into them can affect the reading significently, that is why they do the follow up at the station. Even that one can be manipulated to a degree. Only blood test are really accurate.