| Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), or any other | | | | stiff penalties, fines and punishment. The offense may |
| intoxicant, is a serious offense and invites strict law | | | | also be termed as ""operating while intoxicated"" (OWI) |
| enforcement through fines and penalties, probation and | | | | or ""driving while intoxicated"" (DWI). Driving with an |
| if the case is severe, imprisonment. | | | | excessive blood-alcohol concentration (BAC), means |
| Signs of driving under the influence vary and include | | | | when you are charged with DUI, you will need to |
| swerving and weaving, stopping in a traffic lane for no | | | | undergo a BAC test that can involve testing your |
| reason and minor and major traffic accidents. DUI laws | | | | blood sample or taking a breath test. As per California |
| vary from state to state. As, a general rule, you are in | | | | law, you can be booked for DUI if the BAC test |
| trouble if your blood-alcohol concentration level is over | | | | confirms a concentration level to be higher than .20%. |
| .20%. | | | | Suppose you are charged with DUI and refuse to take |
| First and foremost, the legal drinking age is twenty-one. | | | | a chemical test. In this case your driver's license will be |
| This rule itself leads to the zero tolerance law. In simple | | | | suspended, even if you are not found guilty of the DUI |
| terms, this means that since it is illegal for people under | | | | charge. In California, the suspension is for a period of |
| 21 to drink alcohol, it is also illegal for them to drive any | | | | one year. A police officer may take your license and |
| vehicle with alcohol in their system. So, if you are under | | | | serve you with a notice of suspension after a |
| 21, and charged with driving while intoxicated, be | | | | breath-test. This is because in California a ""per se"" |
| prepared to have your license taken away. | | | | statute provides for immediate suspension if the |
| In California, driving under the influence of alcohol invites | | | | breath test result is above the legal limit. |