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Between Monday, August 4 and Sunday, August 10, 2014, just six days, seventeen people in Lee County were arrested for DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs) according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office . Collier County had over 700 DUI arrests and two fatalities in 2013 which were caused by DUIs. In March 2014, the Collier County Sheriff's department felt that, because of the DUI  problem, they needed to introduce the "ghost" vehicle to their fleet.  This vehicle is nicknamed "ghost" because it is the "color of midnight"; the time when most DUI drivers are on the roads.

The last few years have seen the introduction of smartphone breathalizer apps which are portable devices small enough to fit in the pocket. These smartphone breathalizer apps' manufacturers say are accurate indicators of a driver's BAC (blood alcohol content).  One such company, Breathometer, is projecting sales by the end of 2014 to reach more than $10 million on a device which retails for $49.

These smartphone breathalizer apps may sound like just the device to avoid driving while drinking, but the accuracy of these devices is in question.   Jeff  Rossen, Investigative Reporter with NBC News, reported on the TODAY show August 14, 2014 on the accuracy of these smartphone apps and found them lacking. The BAC of the participants in his test either measured too low or too high. Makers of the devices say, "They will help users make smart decisions."  Law enforcement officers, however,  believe the devices are unreliable and may the lead users of the devices to have false senses of their ability to operate motor vehicles.

Florida's BAC limit is 0.08.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that impairment begins with even one drink.  Below is a chart showing what impairments occur at different BAC levels:

BAC      IMPAIRMENTS

.08      Concentrated Attention & Speed Control

.06      Information Processing & Judgment

.05      Coordination

.04      Eye Movement Control, Standing, Steadiness, Emergency Responses

.03      Tracking & Steering

.02      Divided Attention, Choice Reaction Time, Visual Function 

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. recommends, "Do not drink and drive. If you do drink, instead of relying on a smartphone breathalizer device, rely on a designated driver and get home safely."

Hurt By Drunk Driver Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.