| The main problem in most DUI defense situations is | | | | other qualified medical professional drawing blood from |
| that the person's blood alcohol content (BAC) is the | | | | the accused. |
| same or higher than the legal maximum. If the BAC is | | | | The breathalyzer breath test is the most common kind |
| higher than the maximum, then a person is legally drunk | | | | of blood alcohol test that is performed by police |
| and may be punished by the legal system. The | | | | officers. The breathalyzer test determines the level of |
| harshest punishment would be the sentence issued as | | | | alcohol in your breath from your lungs. |
| a result of a DUI felony conviction. | | | | In all states the BAC is.08%. However, in some states |
| Every state in the United States has laws that set the | | | | it is lower for teenage drivers. Some states have a |
| legal BAC at.08%. Anything higher than BAC of.08% | | | | zero tolerance policy for teenage drinking and driving, |
| and you are in violation of the law. | | | | Illinois for example. The standard is getting tougher for |
| Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is how much alcohol is in | | | | young people. If you are 21 or younger and have even |
| your body, your blood to be exact. The BAC test | | | | a.01% BAC you could still face a DUI charge. |
| measures the weight of alcohol in your blood and then | | | | In order to be sure about your BAC you need to take |
| expresses it in percentage form. | | | | a test (breath, blood, urine or chemical). However, there |
| The higher the alcohol level in your blood, the worse | | | | are some rules of thumb that let you estimate your |
| your driving will be. Some studied document that a | | | | BAC based on your weight and how much you have |
| BAC as low as.02% impacts a person's driving ability | | | | had to drink. |
| and increases the odds of a traffic accident, even | | | | A 170 pound man needs to drink four or more drinks in |
| though most states DUI statutes peg the legal BAC | | | | about an hour in order to hit a BAC of.08%, and that's |
| at.08%. | | | | on an empty stomach. A woman at 137 pounds would |
| At above.05% the odds of a crash begin to go up. | | | | hit the.08% BAC at around three drinks, again on an |
| The chances of a crash skyrocket at.08% and above. | | | | empty stomach. |
| Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) measurement after | | | | Remember, these are only "rule of thumb" estimates. |
| being stopped by a police officer on suspicion of DUI | | | | Lots of factors are at play here. Your weight, what |
| involves testing breath, saliva, blood or urine. | | | | you have eaten recently and other things, all play a |
| Traffic officers often use lots of different tests to | | | | part in determining if you are driving drunk. |
| check for sobriety, field road tests only measure your | | | | You can purchase a home breathalyzer kit now. |
| reflexes but not your blood alcoholic content. | | | | These kits allow you to check your own BAC. |
| Even if you pass a sobriety test in the field, you can | | | | However, be aware that these kits are considered not |
| still be convicted in a court of DUI. Most experts feel | | | | very accurate, as a result, many people advise against |
| that blood testing is the most accurate way to | | | | using them. |
| determine BAC. Testing blood involves a doctor or | | | | |