What is the 20 minute rule?
According to the Florida Administrative Code, the results of breath-alcohol tests are not valid unless the arresting officer or the person administering the test can reasonably insure that the person who is asked to blow into the machine did not take anything by mouth or did not regurgitate for at least 20 minutes before blowing into the machine. If this rule is not complied with, then the results of the breath-alcohol test should not be presented to the jury at trial nor should DMV suspend the person’s driver’s license.
