Why You Should Consider Challenging Breath or Blood Test Results
Challenging scientific evidence can change the trajectory of a DUI case by removing the prosecution’s most persuasive proof of intoxication. When breath or blood results are unreliable, suppressed, or seriously questioned, plea options and sentencing outcomes become more favorable for a defendant. For Walls residents, this can mean avoiding license suspension, reduced fines, or alternative sentencing that preserves employment and family responsibilities. Carefully evaluating whether to pursue these challenges requires a close look at records and the specific circumstances of the arrest in DeSoto County.
Additionally, a thorough challenge helps protect future driving privileges and personal reputation. Even when a case cannot be dismissed entirely, lowering the impact of scientific evidence often leads to diminished charges or less severe administrative outcomes. Choosing to investigate and contest breath or blood testing preserves options and shows a commitment to a robust defense. In Walls, clients who pursue a detailed review typically have a clearer understanding of their legal position and a better chance at achieving a practical resolution consistent with their long-term needs.
Common Situations That Call for Challenging Test Results
Several common circumstances prompt a review of breath or blood tests, including inconsistent preliminary and evidentiary readings, missing machine calibration logs, unclear lab procedures, or suspected contamination of blood samples. Medical issues or interfering substances may also make readings unreliable. In Walls and DeSoto County, these common scenarios justify in-depth document requests and technical analysis. Identifying the right grounds for a challenge depends on the specific facts, and pursuing those grounds promptly improves the likelihood of a favorable outcome in court or administrative proceedings.
Inconsistent Test Results
When preliminary screenings or multiple tests show inconsistent numbers, it raises questions about the reliability of the testing equipment or the testing process. Significant discrepancies between a roadside screen and an evidentiary breath test, or between two blood test results, often justify further investigation. In Walls, uncovering the reasons for inconsistency requires review of operator notes, calibration records, and lab procedures. These inquiries may reveal explainable causes or procedural failures that alter how the evidence is presented in court.
Missing or Incomplete Records
Gaps in documentation such as missing calibration certificates, absent maintenance logs, or incomplete chain-of-custody records can significantly weaken scientific evidence. Such omissions make it harder for the prosecution to prove that results are reliable and properly handled. In DeSoto County and Walls, identifying missing records is a typical early step in any challenge to breath or blood testing. Defense counsel will often file discovery requests and motions to compel production to obtain the full record and assess the strength of the state’s evidence.
Medical Issues and Interfering Factors
Medical conditions, certain medications, or physiological factors can affect breath and blood readings and may explain unexpected results. Issues such as regurgitation, medical devices, or metabolic differences can alter measurements or create false positives. Addressing medical and physiological variables requires obtaining medical records and sometimes consulting with health professionals to explain how such factors might influence readings. In Walls, presenting this evidence can be decisive in showing that test numbers do not accurately reflect impairment at the time of driving.
