Failing a breathalyzer test can be a scary moment. Don’t panic. A failed breathalyzer test presents an obstacle in your DUI case, but the existence of the test alone is not proof of your guilt. It will, however, result in several immediate penalties, including:

Getting pulled over by an officer of the law is a stressful experience, to say the least, especially if the officer asks you to take a DUI breathalyzer test. Should you take the test? What happens if you refuse to take it? Are there consequences for refusing a breathalyzer, and if so, how do they compare to the consequences of taking the test and failing?

A breathalyzer test can be frightening for a driver who is pulled over when they’re uncertain whether or not they are safely below the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC). After all, breath evidence is a cornerstone in decades of drunk driving cases, as it provides law enforcement with numerical evidence of intoxication that traditional methods like the Field Sobriety Test and officer observation cannot.

Failing a breathalyzer test at a traffic stop or Massachusetts sobriety checkpoint will get you charged with OUI in Massachusetts. This can have a tremendous impact on your life, and you might feel frightened or unsure of what to do next. Here are four steps that will help you defend yourself from the consequences.

If you have failed a breathalyzer test at a sobriety checkpoint or traffic stop in Massachusetts, then you’ve already incurred an automatic suspension of your license and will soon face drunk driving charges in court. This is a scary moment for anyone—but don’t panic.

The breathalyzer test has always been one of the most vital aspects of a DUI case. While failing a breathalyzer test can feel like it eliminates your chances of a Not Guilty verdict, that’s not always the case.