Reese I. Joye, Esq.

Drunk Driving
( DUI / DWI / OWI )
Defense Information

Sponsored by The Joye Law Firm

South Carolina's
Breath Testing Machine

BREATHALYZER

From 1966 until 1991, South Carolina used the Stephenson Breathalyzer (Note: Stephenson sold the rights to the Breathalyzer machine to Smith & Wesson Corporation who later sold it to National Draeger). The Breathalyzer is no longer used in South Carolina (nor in many other states!). However, everyone erroneously uses the word Breathalyzer to indicate the breath testing machine even though the breath testing machine in South Carolina is the DATAMASTER.

DATAMASTER

The Datamaster machine uses infrared spectroscopy (technology) as the basis for determining the quantity of alcohol in a person's breath (it converts that reading to denote the reading as "blood alcohol'). South Carolina is one of few states that does not require two (or more) breath tests (as confirmatory of the first test).

Mr. Joye has attended three days of instruction at the manufacturer's plant on the theory and operation of the Datamaster machine.