This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
Investigating the Accuracy of Breath Tests ¶
Published on November 1, 2019, a New York Times investigation revealed widespread issues with the technology used in breath tests to determine impairment.
According to the investigation, tens of thousands of breath tests in over a dozen states have been invalidated by judges, raising questions about the reliability of these tools.
These devices, hailed as accurate to the third decimal point, are used in most states to determine a driver's level of impairment. However, the consequences of a failed test can be severe, including the loss of a driver's license.
‘The Weekly’ explores the implications of these findings, speaking with drivers who may have been wrongly convicted, officials concerned about the potential for guilty drivers to be let off, and the manufacturers of the machines that determine who's drunk and who's not.
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Featured Reporters ¶
Senior Story Editors Dan Barry, Liz O. Baylen, and Liz Day, Director of Photography Vanessa Carr, Video Editor Geoff O’Brien, Producer Lizzie Blenk, and Associate Producer Abdulai Bai.
