SCRAM Remote Breath in Ohio OVI Cases

What It Is, When It Is Used, and What It Does Not Prove

SCRAM devices are often mentioned in Ohio OVI cases, but they are frequently misunderstood.

Unlike roadside breath tests or evidential breath machines, SCRAM Remote Breath is not used to decide whether someone committed an OVI at the time of a traffic stop. It serves a different function entirely.

Understanding that distinction matters when SCRAM monitoring becomes part of an Ohio OVI case.

What SCRAM Remote Breath is

SCRAM Remote Breath is an alcohol monitoring system.

It is typically used after an arrest, not during an investigation. SCRAM requires individuals to submit breath samples on a scheduled or random basis, often from home or another approved location.

The system is designed to monitor compliance, not to investigate impairment at a specific moment in time.

When SCRAM is used in Ohio OVI cases

In Ohio, SCRAM Remote Breath is most commonly imposed as:

• A condition of bond

• A condition of probation

It is not used during traffic stops and is not part of the initial determination of probable cause.

What SCRAM results are and are not

SCRAM results are used to track alcohol consumption over time.

They are not evidential breath tests under Ohio law and are not governed by the same approval rules as devices like the BAC DataMaster or Intoxilyzer 8000. SCRAM data is typically used to assess compliance with court orders, not to establish guilt for an OVI offense.

This distinction is important in Ohio OVI defense, especially when SCRAM data is discussed outside its intended purpose.

Why SCRAM issues still matter legally

Even though SCRAM is not an evidential breath test, disputes can still arise.

Questions often involve testing schedules, missed tests, reported positives, device operation, and how alleged violations are handled. These issues are procedural and compliance-based rather than scientific.

Understanding SCRAM’s role helps avoid conflating monitoring violations with proof of impaired driving.

How SCRAM fits into Ohio breath testing overall

SCRAM Remote Breath sits outside Ohio’s framework for approved evidential breath machines.

It is distinct from:

• Portable Breath Testers (PBTs) used during traffic stops

• Stationary evidential machines used to generate court-admissible breath results

SCRAM is a monitoring tool, not an investigative or evidential device.

The takeaway

SCRAM Remote Breath is about monitoring, not proof.

In Ohio OVI cases, SCRAM may affect bond or probation conditions, but it does not replace the legal requirements for establishing impairment at the time of driving.