Alabama uses the Draeger Alcotest 7110 MKIII to test alcohol levels in DUI cases.
Prosecutors and police claim that this is the pinnacle of evidential breath testing technology, yet questions persist regarding its reliability in certain contexts. While its design aims to provide accurate and reproducible results, several factors can contribute to potential inaccuracies.
First, calibration issues are a significant concern. Like all sophisticated instruments, the Alcotest 7110 MKIII requires routine calibration and maintenance to ensure accuracy. Even minor deviations in calibration procedures can lead to measurement errors. Inaccurate calibration might result in breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) readings that do not accurately reflect an individual's blood alcohol content, thus undermining the device's evidential value.
Operator error also plays a critical role in the reliability of results. The test's accuracy depends on how well the operator follows strict protocols. Any deviation in administering the test, ensuring the subject follows proper breathing instructions, or managing environmental conditions can skew results. For instance, variations in breath sampling techniques may inadvertently capture residual mouth alcohol rather than deep lung air, leading to inflated readings.
Environmental factors further complicate matters. Temperature, humidity, and air quality in the testing environment can affect sensor performance. Although the Alcotest 7110 MKIII is engineered to minimize such influences, it is not entirely immune to them. In uncontrolled roadside settings, these external factors might introduce variability not present under laboratory conditions.
Lastly, scientific debates about the correlation between breath alcohol concentration and blood alcohol concentration continue to surface. Individual physiological differences, such as lung capacity or metabolic rate variations, can result in discrepancies between the actual blood alcohol level and the measured BrAC. This inherent variability poses challenges when relying solely on the device's output for definitive conclusions in DUI cases.
In summary, while the Draeger Alcotest 7110 MKIII is a technologically advanced instrument, calibration, operator technique, environmental conditions, and physiological variability all contribute to concerns about its reliability. These factors underscore the importance of corroborating breath test results with additional evidence.
