Proposal of interpreting analytical results indicating borderline-legal alcohol concentration values in individuals after alcohol consumption or being alcohol-intoxicated].

Marek Wiergowski

Katedry i Zakładu Medycyny Sadowej, Gdańskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego, Gdańsk. marwier@gumed.edu.pl

Archiwum medycyny sa̧dowej i kryminologii 2012 Jul-Sep

filter terms:

Interpretation of analytical results indicating borderline-legal alcohol concentration values after the substance intake or intoxication requires consideration of many factors, such as: road safety, measurement uncertainty, determination of ethanol in breath, alcohol metabolism in the body, the possibility of residual alcohol in the mouth. Decree No 738 of the Chief of Police issued on 21 June 2011, introduces the obligation to verify the results ranging close to the borderline concentration of 0.1 mg/l by executing the third measurement, but the interpretation of these results is questionable. The paper proposes a new manner of taking measurements and their interpretation. Upon arriving at the scene the police should record the starting time of testing the driver and wait 15 minutes (the time required to eliminate residual alcohol). If, after that time, the first result falls within the borderline values legally described as the condition after alcohol consumption or alcohol intoxication, the second and third measurements should be taken immediately. Thus, three measurements taken quickly in a few minutes should not be affected by the alcohol metabolism in the body. If two of the three determined values are less than or equal to 0.09 mg/l, the driver should be pronounced sober. If two of the three results are within the range of 0.10-0.25 mg/l, the result indicates condition after alcohol intake. If two of the three results are equal to or more than 0.26 mg/l, the status of the driver may be described as alcohol intoxication.

Citation

Marek Wiergowski. Proposal of interpreting analytical results indicating borderline-legal alcohol concentration values in individuals after alcohol consumption or being alcohol-intoxicated]. Archiwum medycyny sa̧dowej i kryminologii. 2012 Jul-Sep;62(3):178-85