Opinion ID: 2201755
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Preliminary Breath Test

Text: The preliminary breath test was established by TR § 16-205.2(a). It provided: A police officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that an individual is or has been driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while intoxicated or while under the influence of alcohol may, without making an arrest and prior to the issuance of a citation, request the individual to submit to a preliminary breath test to be administered by the officer.... The results of the preliminary breath test, subsection (c) explains, shall be used as a guide for the police officer in deciding whether an arrest should be made.... Although the results of the test may be used as evidence by a defendant in a court action, they may not be used as evidence by the State in any court action. Id. And, [t]he taking of or refusal to submit to a preliminary breath test is not admissible in evidence in any court action, nor may [a]ny evidence pertaining to a preliminary breath test ... be used in a civil action. Id. Furthermore, [r]efusal to submit to a preliminary breath test shall not constitute a violation of [TR] § 16-205.1 ... and the taking of a preliminary breath test shall not relieve the individual of the obligation to take the test required under [TR] § 16-205.1 ... if requested to do so by the police officer. Subsection (d). Subsection (b) declares: [N]either a refusal to take the test nor the taking of the test shall prevent or require a subsequent chemical test pursuant to TR § 16-205.1....