What is a condition that allows for a blood test when a breath test is impractical?

A blood test can be conducted instead of a breath test when it is impractical to administer the latter. One specific condition that justifies this is when the driver has an injury in the mouth. Injuries may prevent a valid breath sample from being obtained, as the presence of blood, open wounds, or other factors can affect the accuracy of the results or make it difficult to perform the breath test safely.

In situations where the breath test can't be performed due to a mouth injury, law enforcement officers are trained to rely on alternative methods for measuring blood alcohol content, such as a blood test. This is crucial for ensuring that accurate and reliable results are obtained for the assessment of the driver's impairment.

Other options like a power outage in the testing facility or a malfunctioning breathalyzer may also present obstacles, but they do not specifically pertain to the driver’s physical condition impacting the breath test. A driver’s refusal of a breath test typically leads to legal consequences but does not provide a direct reason for opting for a blood test instead. In contrast, the presence of an injury is a direct physical determinant that necessitates the alternative testing method.