Reader’s Question:

My cousin was charged for DUI here in Houston. It is so hard to believe the accuracy of the tests being done by the police after being pulled over because of a traffic accident. How accurate and reliable are the means of the police to determine alcohol concentration?

Anne

Houston , TX

In the State of Texas , the law provides that testing of alcohol concentrations can be performed by analysis of a suspect’s breath, urine or blood. All of these methods of testing, however, leave much to be desired.

Blood testing is thought by the majority of forensic scientists to be the most reliable and accurate means of alcohol concentration determination. From a police perspective, though, it is also thought to be the least convenient and least desirable method of testing. Like the testing of urine specimens, it provides an opportunity for the suspect to recheck the blood test. The validity of the police test can be attacked by re-testing the exact specimen taken by police if found to be erroneous.

On the other hand, breath testing from a police perspective is the most convenient means of alcohol concentration determination. But there continues to be a heated debate among scientists. Breath samples are not preserved for subsequent checks of the initial test’s validity under current procedures for breath testing in Houston,Texas . Having a good DUI lawyer would definitely help your brother challenge the result of the breath test.