488.470 - Requirements for evidentiary test of breath to determine concentration of alcohol in breath; use of reasonable force to obtain sample or conduct test.
488.470 Requirements for evidentiary test of breath to determine concentration of alcohol in breath; use of reasonable force to obtain sample or conduct test.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, an evidentiary test of breath to determine the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath may be used to establish that concentration only if two consecutive samples of the person’s breath are taken and:
(a) The difference between the concentration of alcohol in the person’s breath indicated by the two samples is less than or equal to 0.02;
(b) If the provisions of paragraph (a) do not apply, a third evidentiary test of breath is administered and the difference between the concentration of alcohol in the person’s breath indicated by the third sample and one of the first two samples is less than or equal to 0.02; or
(c) If the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, a fourth evidentiary test is administered. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 488.460, the fourth evidentiary test must be a blood test.
2. If the person fails to provide the second or third consecutive sample, or to submit to the fourth evidentiary test, the results of the first test may be used alone as evidence of the concentration of alcohol in the person’s breath. If for some other reason a second, third or fourth sample is not obtained, the results of the first test may be used with all other evidence presented to establish the concentration.
3. If a person refuses or otherwise fails to provide a second or third consecutive sample or submit to a fourth evidentiary test, a peace officer may direct that reasonable force be used to obtain a sample or conduct a test pursuant to NRS 488.460.
(Added to NRS by 1997, 329; A 1999, 2466)