Even though there are deterrents all over the place, more than 25,000 Minnesotans are arrested for drinking and driving every year. The fines and potential consequences should be enough of a deterrent, but on top of those we have things like announced DUI checkpoints and store-bought breathalyzers. But just how reliable are those purchasable breathalyzers? Could they really save you from a DUI? ABC 6 News in Minnesota recently put them to the test.
For their research, ABC 6 purchased two breathalyzers from the company BACtrack. One was a $50 model and the other was a $150, and both were tested alongside the $600 model used by the Minnesota State Patrol. Reporter Ben Henry put the breathalyzer devices to the test after consuming two beers in just under an hour. Here’s what the devices revealed:
- The $50 device said Henry registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.57.
- The $150 device revealed that Henry had a BAC of 0.35.
- The $600 breathalyzer used by the Minnesota State Patrol showed Henry had a BAC of 0.28.
So above numbers offer a few takeaway points. First, it’s clear that the store-bought devices are wildly inaccurate, as the cheaper device reading was more than double the official reading from the Minnesota State Police breathalyzer. Even the more expensive store-bought model was off by 25 percent compared to the official breathalyzer.
“This one is going to be the most accurate out of all of them,” said Sergeant Troy Christianson with the MN State Patrol about the $600 device, “The quality of it, it’s the company, and we calibrate them on a regular basis so we check them once a month and make sure they are accurate.”
It’s also important to note that you shouldn’t assume the store-bought models are always higher than the official State Patrol BAC reading. As Olmstead County DWI patrol deputy Michelle Ness noted, some cheap breathalyzers can be under-calibrated.
“It’s terrible… we had a DUI, it was actually another officer I watched had a DUI arrest, he [the driver] had a home breathalyzer and he had it at the bar with him. When he got pulled over he said, ‘my home breathalyzer said I’m only at a .06 I’m fine.’ He was like a .14.”
When it comes down to it, it’s clear that these store-bought breathalyzers simply aren’t a reliable source of information. If you’re thinking of buying a breathalyzer, save your money and put it in a “Get Home Safe” fund for when you’re out on the town with friends. That money will be much better spent, as it will ensure you avoid a costly drunk driving arrest.
