Los Angeles DUI Analysis: Is the “Breathalyzer Equalizer” a Boon or a Bane for Road Safety?

A new product has created an incredible amount of controversy and debate within the Los Angeles DUI prevention community. It’s called the “breathalyzer equalizer.” Developed by a DUI defense attorney and a state trooper, this product uses a powder to absorb “mouth alcohol” to make breathalyzer test results more accurate.

As we’ve discussed before on this blog, mouth alcohol can throw off the accuracy of breath test readings and lead to false positives and unnecessary arrests. The makers of this product argue that increased accuracy will lead to safer roads and fewer people falsely arrested and convicted. Critics, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving spokesperson, Berry Martin, call the product “unnecessary” and warn that its widespread use could “lead to dangerous circumstances.” Martin, a member of Georgia’s chapter of MADD, did not mince words: “you are putting drunks on the road…If you get caught, you could beat the test and that false sense of hope could lead to an accident. The accident could kill somebody.”

Would such a product lead to “false hope”?

Could this product cause harm?

These questions may not be simple to answer. Martin might have a point.

Paul Broft, a product representative, explained that “all [the Breathalyzer Equalizer] does is eliminate errors. What we are doing is protecting lives and careers.”

Let’s extrapolate from that logic. Imagine someone gets falsely convicted for DUI for having mouth alcohol, which pushes her BAC level above the 0.08% threshold. This leads to a conviction and unfair punishments, such as license suspension, jail time, etcetera. It also then leads to other indirect problems, such as the loss of her job, relationship issues, self-esteem problems and high insurance rates.

That might sound like a “bridge too far.” But now imagine hundreds of these “close call” DUI arrests occurring every year — hundreds of lives torn apart for no reason. As important as it is to stamp out problems like DUI recidivism, it’s also important to prevent nonsensical or unfair DUI arrests.

Of course, Martin’s point can also be correct. Depending on how this product is advertised and used, it could encourage drivers who are “on the bubble” to take a little extra risk. If you extrapolate that “little extra risk” over large time periods and large numbers of people, it could add up to something substantial and dangerous.

The point is that with products like this – as with changes to DUI laws and policy – you can never really know what changes will lead to what results in advance.

The good news is that your defense does not have to be confusing or complicated, particularly when you work with an experienced Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. Connect today with attorney Kraut and his capable team today to build your defense.

Did police stop you for driving under the influence in Los Angeles? Contact DUI defense attorney Michael Kraut for assistance at (323) 464-6453 or online. We’re located at 6255 Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1520, Los Angeles, California 90028.