Taiwan: Lawmaker Questions Breathalyzer Accuracy After Driver Tests Positive Post-Lychee and Bread Consumption

A member of the Miaoli County Council in Taiwan has raised concerns about the reliability of breathalyzer tests, citing a case where a driver involved in a traffic accident registered an alcohol level above the legal limit. The driver, who denied drinking alcohol, attributed the positive reading to consuming lychees and bread shortly before the incident.

Councilor Hsu Yung-huang presented the case during a legislative session, stating that the individual, a former employee, was subjected to a breathalyzer test that indicated an alcohol breath concentration of 0.26 mg/L. The driver insisted he had not consumed any alcohol. Subsequently, he paid for a blood test at a hospital, which revealed a blood alcohol concentration of zero.

According to the councilor, the driver suggested that the lychees and bread might have reacted with saliva to produce ethanol, leading to the false positive on the breathalyzer. Hsu recommended that police officers consider suggesting blood tests or advising drivers to rinse their mouths if they appear sober but register a high breathalyzer reading, to avoid potential disputes.

Police Commissioner Li Chung-ping acknowledged that certain foods like lychees, fermented bread, or durian can produce trace amounts of ethanol in the mouth, potentially causing a "false positive" reading. He stated that officers usually ask individuals to rinse their mouths before testing. In this specific case, Li confirmed that the police would provide the hospital's blood test results to the prosecutor's office and assist in reconstructing the event. The Tongxiao Precinct reported that the accident occurred on May 31, and the breathalyzer test was administered shortly after. The blood test was conducted several hours later.

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Police will submit the hospital's blood test results to the prosecutor for their consideration.