Acid reflux – GERD defense in Virginia DUI alcohol cases

Acid reflux supports blood tests in Virginia DUI prosecutions

Acid reflux — formally known as gastroesophageal reflux disease/ GERD — is suffered by many people. Knowing that, it is regrettable that I do not see Virginia police asking DUI suspects whether they have GERD, in order to have the GERD sufferer offered the option of a blood test rather than a breath test to check for blood alcohol content (“BAC“).

Acid reflux can cause falsely high breathalyzer readings without the GERD sufferer even knowing any stomach contents have entered the mouth

With GERD, the hiatal hernia can stay open, thus constantly leaving stomach contents to come enter mouth. Such a situation runs counter to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science’s (“DFS”) directive for alcohol breath testing personnel to take steps to minimize the presence of alcohol in the DWI suspect’s mouth, in that the presence of alcohol in the test subject’s mouth can cause an unreliably high false breathalyzer reading.

Virginia DWI law should change to permit the suspect an option for taking a blood test

Virginia law fails to provide DUI arrestees the option to do a blood test rather than a breath test for BAC. Consequently, a legion of Virginia DWI defendants get wrongfully prosecuted for breathalyzer testing refusal when physically unable to blow into the breathalyzer machine. Also, at least one or two police officers have admitted to me to warning of a possible refusal charge if the suspect burps again, often intimidating burping DUI arrestees not to admit they burped). Finally, a blood test is called for in the situation of suspects with acid reflux, and suspects who cannot stop experiencing burping or vomit burps.

Acid reflux/ GERD sufferers should tell their DUI lawyer of this ailment

Acid reflux/ GERD sufferers should tell their DUI lawyers that they have this ailment, and it is a good idea for lawyers to ask the same of their DWI clients. GERD sufferers with Virginia DUI cases should talk with their lawyers about any significance and benefit of endoscopy exams (which involve general anesthesia) and gastric emptying testing (to support the extent to which the stomach was not empty of alcohol at the time of BAC (blood alcohol concentration) testing.

I talk with my acid reflux-suffering DUI clients about Va. Code § 8.01-390.3(B), which is a mechanism for offering their GERD diagnosis into evidence without the testimony of their physician. However, evidence law makes reliance on Section 8.01-390.3(B) a dicey proposition.

All of this underlines the insufficient reliability of breath testing for BAC in DUI prosecutions. 

Virginia DUI attorney Jonathan L. Katz has successfully defended hundreds of people charged with DWI, and has taken well over one hundred such cases to trial. To discuss your criminal or DUI case with Jon Katz, please schedule a confidential consultation through his staff at 703-383-1100.