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Michigan DUI Breathalyzer and the Breath test (PBT) Before your Arrest

Home Blog DUI Michigan DUI Breathalyzer and the Breath test (PBT) Before your Arrest

The larger point here is that the PBT test is not “the” test used against you in a DUI case. In fact, the BAC score is only admissible in a DUI trial for a few, very selected reasons, none of which is to prove that the PBT result was your actual BAC when you were driving. If there’s a takeaway here, it’s that you likely shouldn’t get all excited about your PBT score, unless it was really low (.02 to .05) or the difference between it and your actual BAC scores from the police station is significant (.04 or greater). These are not hard and fast numbers, but in any case where variations of this magnitude are present, a DUI lawyer will likely be undertaking a painstakingly thorough investigation.

As we’ve clarified, “PBT” means “preliminary breath test,” not “portable breath test.” We’ve also seen that, in the larger picture, that technical clarification really doesn’t change the purpose, role or value of the PBT. Finally, we’ve noted that the PBT has a specific, although limited and often confusing evidentiary value. In the final analysis, the PBT is really a kind of mechanical “smell test” that plays an important, if not misunderstood role in a DUI case.