How accurate is the preliminary breath test during a DUI arrest?

How accurate is the preliminary breath test during a DUI arrest?

Neil Shouse (Defense Attorney) gives expert video advice on: Can the police use my statements during a DUI arrest as evidence in court?; What are three nationally standardized DUI field sobriety test?; Are DUI field sobriety tests accurate and reliable? and more...

The preliminary breath test is thought to be fairly accurate but does not have the safeguards of the official breath test machine that would be used at the police station. Originally, these devices were only designed to measure the presence of alcohol or to give the police a very rough indicator of where the person's BAC might be. However, in recent years in many states they have become used much more as evidence of the person's particular BAC level in court. The readings on these machines which are recorded in a computerized component are provided in court and often used against the suspect, even though they are known to be much less reliable than the official breath test machines.