In North Carolina, some people refer to the Alco Sensor FST as the “breathalyzer” or “PBT” (portable breath test). It is is a handheld breath alcohol screening device used by law enforcement on scene to confirm the consumption of alcohol. If you’ve been charged with driving while impaired, it’s a…
North Carolina drivers who are suspected of impaired driving may undergo two main types of breath or alcohol tests: a preliminary screening at the roadside and an evidentiary test under the state’s implied consent laws. These procedures are guided by statutes like G.S. 20-16.2, which defines the expectations placed on…
North Carolina regulates alcohol screening under a set of rules involving technical standards, operational procedures, and legal provisions that govern how breath tests are administered and how results may be used in criminal proceedings. Officers rely on portable breath alcohol content screening devices (sometimes referred to as a “PBT” or…