Georgia DUI Heart Burn and the Breathalyzer

Millions of people suffer from acid reflux disease—a condition often referred to as heartburn. Along with the frustrating side effects that often accompany this disorder, heartburn can also impact the way your body processes alcohol and, in turn, increase your chances of being arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI). In fact, a person with chronic heartburn is far more likely to fail a breathalyzer than those with healthy digestive systems. Fortunately, if you were recently charged with DUI in Georgia and have a history of heartburn, a skilled DUI defense attorney may be able to challenge your breath test results in court. Continue reading to learn more about Georgia DUI, heartburn, and the breathalyzer.

To understand how heartburn can affect a person’s breathalyzer results, it is important to understand how the test works. Based on the amount of alcohol found in your breath, a breathalyzer determines just how much alcohol is present in your bloodstream—a calculation known as blood alcohol content, or BAC. In Georgia, like all other states, it is against the law to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher.

Unfortunately, if you suffer from heartburn, any alcohol you consume can become trapped in your mouth before it enters your bloodstream. In fact, after just one drink, alcohol can remain in your mouth for up to fifteen minutes. Since breathalyzers are unable to distinguish between alcohol in your lungs and mouth alcohol, this means your test results may indicate an illegal BAC, even if you are not actually intoxicated.

If you are one of the thousands of individuals who struggle with heartburn and other gastrointestinal problems, it is important to understand the impact your condition can have on your Georgia breathalyzer test results. Each year, many drivers are falsely arrested for DUI simply due to their medical disorder.

To determine whether your BAC calculation may be inaccurate, contact attorneys Frank Gomez & William Head. After discussing your medical past, we will thoroughly review your breathalyzer results to identify any factors that could have potentially affected your BAC reading.

Remember, stomach ailments can threaten more than your health—they can also impact your future. Make sure you have the best chances of winning your case in court. Contact the Law Offices of Frank Gomez & William Head today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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