New Breathalyzers In Maryland

New Breathalyzers In Maryland

During the last year, the state of Maryland made news when it announced a program to begin upgrading the breathalyzer equipment that police use in potential drunk driving cases.  Considering the fact that the existing breathalyzers used by law enforcement in Maryland are about ten years old, it safe to say that it is about time that they updated their equipment!  Let’s take a closer look at this new equipment and its impact on the Maryland DWI scene.

Out with the old, in with the new

The new devices being utilized in Maryland are the Intox EC/IR II, and will be replacing the now outdated Intox EC/IR.  The major improvement in the new devices is the lower margin for error allowed by their predecessors.   In addition, the newest version, has more memory for testing and has improved on the mouthpiece to reduce the changes of it getting stuck and being unable to record a sufficient breath or giving a false reading.

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Impact of the change on DUI cases in Maryland

So, what does this mean for you if, say for example, you are stopped at a DUI checkpoint in Maryland (link to prior blog post)?  For starters, it means fewer false reads and improved accuracy.  This means that if you have not been drinking and take a breathalyzer you can breathe easier knowing there is less of a chance of a false readout.  On the other hand, if you have been drinking, this makes it easier for the state to make its case that you are guilty of a per se DUI offense.   Fear not, though!  Because even with a readout above the legal limit from one of these new devices, there are still many arguments that can be made to dispute the findings.

Do you need help with a serious traffic violation?  Call Rodriguez-Nanney, P.A. for an experienced legal team who has both the knowledge and expertise to make sure that you’re getting the defense that you deserve.