accurate BAC meter?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2016 5:12 pm

Seeing the NTSB's now annual push to lower the BAC to 0.05 from 0.08 ( http://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/PR20160113.aspx ) got me thinking about those portable BAC meters I've seen on QVC, SharkTank, popup ads etc. Having no idea what 0.05 feels like vs 0.08, and reading that 2 drinks would send a 180-lb man to or over the limit got me wondering where a skinny 160-lb dude like me would be after 2 12oz beers in one hour. Sadly, the first reaction was "in jail, feeling completely sober, and really mad."

While I understand the safety ramifications involved in lowering the BAC before driving, I can assure the NTSB that driving (1) while eating (2) while dealing with multiple kids in the car/van (3) singing along to the radio (4) having ANY conversation (5) listening to a podcast or audiobook and (6) driving home tired and sleepy from an all-night shift on-call at the hospital are more distracting/disabling than a 0.05 BAC. However, of those, the fact remains that exceeding 0.08 (or 0.05) would likely cost me my medical license.

Has anyone had experience with the at-home or on-the-go meters to see if they accurate/reliable?

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:57 pm

My mom bought one from CVS once when my youngest brother worked there since it was discounted.

We took it to St Thomas with us and the result we're quite eye opening. I'm sure i've driven more than once while over the limit but thinking I felt 100% fine.

We learned that the longer you drink the more accustom your brain becomes to the alcohol and starts compensating for the sluggish reaction times making you feel better off than your BAC stated.

I've also been tempted to buy one to keep in the car. I don't drive drunk, but I sure do have 2 or 3 depending on our length of stay somewhere. Sometimes I wonder what would happen though if I find myself at a license check or something and the officer caught a whiff. Would I be going to jail even though I was not a danger to anyone, I certainly don't really want to find out.

The one we were using from CVS seemed to be decently accurate, but I really had nothing to compare to it to.

Alec Moody · **Joined:** Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:02 am **Posts:** 299

I got one as a stocking stuffer a few years ago and it wasn't repeatable. My understanding is that the margin of error on them (including the ones the cops use) is pretty high. Any lawyers in the club? Can you request a blood test in NC instead of a blowing?

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2016 10:09 pm

Alec Moody wrote:

I got one as a stocking stuffer a few years ago and it wasn't repeatable. My understanding is that the margin of error on them (including the ones the cops use) is pretty high. Any lawyers in the club? Can you request a blood test in NC instead of a blowing?

From what I understand you can, however denying a breathalyzer is an automatic 6 month license suspension. So, you can stand your ground and force them to get a warrant for a blood draw, which by the time it happens might could bring you below the legal limit if you think your borderline. It's still going to hurt though losing your license for 6 months.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Tue Jan 19, 2016 11:32 pm

There does seem to be a wide disparity in price, so I assume price correlates with accuracy. Price points range from $30 stocking stuffers to $150 "expensive enough it better be right." The BACTrack S80 looks like a good unit but is bulky. Not sure how reliable the smaller units are but reviews are solid (if they are real reviews)

Alec do you recall what brand yours was?

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

The other issue from what I understand is calibration. They need to be recalibrated with some frequency to be accurate, at least I think I read that somewhere. . .

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 9:14 am

Uber or Lyft instead?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 9:25 am

Good alternative, but as a baseline I am not a huge fan of getting into cars with strangers. I know I am being a bit of a Luddite :roll:

FrancisChan · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 9:54 am

You could get one of those breathalyzer interlocks installed on your car. No uncertainty then!

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

FrancisChan wrote:

You could get one of those breathalyzer interlocks installed on your car. No uncertainty then!

You'll just need to change your toothpaste and never use mouthwash. Also, you get to pay $25 or $40 every time you get a false positive.

Easy peasy.

Chad Culbertson · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:12 am

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

Uber or Lyft instead?

They don't operate in Chatham county, lol.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:30 am

FrancisChan wrote:

You could get one of those breathalyzer interlocks installed on your car. No uncertainty then!

I have a good friend who got a DUI and had an interlock setup on his car. That thing is not fun. For those that don't know, if you are convicted of DUI and need one of these in order to drive to and from work, not only do you need to blow into it to start the car, but randomly (about every 15-20 minutes), you need to blow into it while driving too. This is to keep you from blowing into it, cracking a beer and being on your way. Anything above 0% is a failure. The standard is 6 months without a single failure. A failure will then get you another 6 months with it from that time.

Think you can fool them by having a passenger blow for you? It has a built in camera that logs each test. The devices need to be calibrated monthly and the rental charge is about $100 a month, prior to the $300 install and $200 de-install.

Uber or Lyft is your friend, or you can do like I do and just no drink when I need to drive. - AB

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 11:41 am

Aaron Buckley wrote:

FrancisChan wrote:

You could get one of those breathalyzer interlocks installed on your car. No uncertainty then!

I have a good friend who got a DUI and had an interlock setup on his car. That thing is not fun. For those that don't know, if you are convicted of DUI and need one of these in order to drive to and from work, not only do you need to blow into it to start the car, but randomly (about every 15-20 minutes), you need to blow into it while driving too. This is to keep you from blowing into it, cracking a beer and being on your way. Anything above 0% is a failure. The standard is 6 months without a single failure. A failure will then get you another 6 months with it from that time.

Think you can fool them by having a passenger blow for you? It has a built in camera that logs each test. The devices need to be calibrated monthly and the rental charge is about $100 a month, prior to the $300 install and $200 de-install.

My former co-worker was convicted of DWI and had that same setup. Two days after he got his license back (after having to go through that whole ordeal for six months) he ran a stop sign and was arrested again for DWI. :roll:

I have no tolerance for DWI offenders so he got what he deserved IMO.

If they could do the same for DWTexting offenders, maybe our roads would be safer. There are WAY more of those offenders to worry about IMO.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:36 pm

New Years 2014 was started by puking in my front lawn due to one of those portable breathalyzers. I don't even remember who got the high score, but I do remember that the results varied a massive amount. (None of us were driving as we were all well into .1x territory)

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Aaron Buckley wrote:

FrancisChan wrote:

You could get one of those breathalyzer interlocks installed on your car. No uncertainty then!

I have a good friend who got a DUI and had an interlock setup on his car. That thing is not fun. For those that don't know, if you are convicted of DUI and need one of these in order to drive to and from work, not only do you need to blow into it to start the car, but randomly (about every 15-20 minutes), you need to blow into it while driving too. This is to keep you from blowing into it, cracking a beer and being on your way. Anything above 0% is a failure. The standard is 6 months without a single failure. A failure will then get you another 6 months with it from that time.

Think you can fool them by having a passenger blow for you? It has a built in camera that logs each test. The devices need to be calibrated monthly and the rental charge is about $100 a month, prior to the $300 install and $200 de-install.

Uber or Lyft is your friend, or you can do like I do and just no drink when I need to drive. - AB

Oh yeah, the other thing is that it needs a lot of volume of air. So you're driving around, the thing beeps at you and you need to grab it, take the deepest breath you can manage, and blow into it for a good 5-10 seconds at full blast... while driving a motor vehicle at speed.

It's still DWI/DUI-able, but you're much better off being biking distance from the bar. Not advising or endorsing it, but an option.

That said, I wonder if you can lose your license if you get a DUI on a bicycle, skateboard, or horse...

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