Opinion ID: 1920407
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admissibility of Breath Test Results.

Text: Pangman contends the circuit court abused its discretion by admitting into evidence without a reasonable basis the result of Pangman's Intoxilyzer 5000 breath test. [18] Breath test results in Wisconsin are entitled to a prima facie presumption of accuracy where, as here, the breath test was administered within three hours of the event to be proved. Section 885.235(1)(c), Stats.; see also State v. Disch, 119 Wis. 2d 461, 472-77, 351 N.W.2d 492 (1984). A breath test result may be excluded, however, where the accuracy of the test is so questionable that its result is not probative, and therefore irrelevant, or is so questionable that its probative value is outweighed by its prejudicial effect. City of New Berlin v. Wertz, 105 Wis. 2d 670, 674-75, 214 N.W.2d 911 (Ct. App. 1981). Pangman argues his breath test result is nonprobative, and therefore irrelevant, because the Intoxilyzer 5000 overestimated his blood alcohol concentration by utilizing a partition ratio greater than Pangman's. We conclude Pangman's argument fails for two reasons, both as discussed above. First, because sec. 346.63(1)(b), Stats., sets forth a per se breath violation, there is no requirement that a direct correlation between breath and blood alcohol concentrations exist. Second, to challenge a breath test result on the basis of a blood alcohol concentration calculated by means of a partition ratio presumes the accuracy of the breath test. Pangman further argues his breath test result is inherently prejudicial because the Intoxilyzer 5000 misleads the jury into believing that a person's total exhalation is measured, when in fact only the last 81 ml. of deep lung air is analyzed. In Disch, this court stated [a]ny contentions that the test result is unreliable or inaccurate goes only to the weight of the evidence as a matter of defense, not to its admissibility. Disch, 119 Wis. 2d at 476. While in Disch we quoted with approval the exceptions set forth in Wertz, we are not persuaded by Pangman's argument that the Intoxilyzer 5000 is so inaccurate or unreliable as to fall within the scope of the Wertz exceptions. We note that the fact the Intoxilyzer 5000 measures only the last 81 ml. of a person's exhalation is one of the primary bases of the breath testing device's reliability. Breath testing devices have been criticized as inadequate indicators of alcohol impairment because their results may overestimate breath alcohol concentration by measuring alcohol in the mouth. For example, a breath test given to a person immediately after he or she uses a mouth rinse containing alcohol could indicate a significant breath alcohol concentration even though no alcohol had been ingested. As Dr. Field testified, however, the Intoxilyzer 5000 is designed to test only deep lung air so that it does not measure mouth alcohol. The amount of alcohol in a person's deep lung air, Dr. Field testified, is representative of the amount of alcohol in the person's entire body. [19] The circuit court's admission of Pangman's breath test result was proper pursuant to sec. 885.235(1)(c), Stats. In accord with Disch, Pangman's argument that the Intoxilyzer 5000 is inaccurate and unreliable because it measures only the last 81 ml. of a person's exhalation was heard by the jury at trial.