Reader’s Question:

I have heard so many negative things about the reliability of breath tests in a DWI case but I want to know what is the breath test machine used in the state of Texas. And in case I get arrested for DWI in Houston, Texas, should I take the breath test?

Hilda

Houston, TX

I would say, if you get arrested for DWI in Houston, Texas, you may choose not to take the breath test because it has serious problems in accurately determining the quantity of ethyl alcohol present in a breath sample. The breath test machine may be useful in determining if any alcohol is present, but deficiencies in the machine make test results unreliable. It would definitely not make sense to risk your freedom, job, marriage, auto insurance rate and lots of money on a DWI breath test which is fraught with many problems.

Breath tests in DWI cases in the state of Texas are far more common that blood tests. Breath test machines are generally put in prisons for easy access by law enforcement officers, results would be available in minutes, samples are analyzed in an environment completely controlled by police officers, and the process is much cheaper. The state of Texas uses the Intoxilyzer 5000 as a breath test machine in DWI cases.