Can a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) be used as probable cause in court?

A Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) is primarily used by law enforcement as a roadside screening tool to help determine if a driver may be intoxicated. However, its results are typically not admissible in court as evidence of a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC). This is because PBTs are often seen as less reliable than evidentiary breath tests that are conducted at the police station using calibrated instruments.

Law enforcement may use the results of a PBT to establish probable cause for arrest; however, once the case reaches court, prosecutors usually rely on more reliable forms of evidence, such as the results from a breathalyzer test that follows official testing protocols. Therefore, stating that a Preliminary Breath Test cannot be used as probable cause in court accurately reflects the limitations of PBTs in legal situations.