This week I’m going to post some thoughts on drinking and driving, then I’m going to ask for some interaction from you. We all know it’s illegal to drive when we’ve had too much to drink, but how much is too much?
To put it simply, any is too much. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limits vary by region, by Country, and by State. All across Canada, the legal limit is 0.08. In the USA, it varies with some States having a legal limit of 0.08 and some 0.10. Problem is, most people know when they feel “drunk” but that is subjective, and can vary widely person to person.
I have said before that I have seen the cost of impaired driving (DUI) and don’t care for the activity in any way myself. However, DUI is one of those offences people commit without intent – that is, they don’t mean to commit a crime. When someone gets arrested and charged with assault, chances are they “meant”to punch the other guy in the nose. DUI is one of those other offences that quite often “just happens” to people. Of course you will always have the type of people that will drive knowing full well they have drank way too much, but these are certainly in the minority of people I arrest for DUI.
So, some of the common questions I get about this topic are:
- How many can you have and still be safe from fear of arrest?
- Does drinking on an empty stomach make you more drunk?
- Can drinking coffee sober you up?
- What do Police look for?
- Can I refuse the breath test?
- How does a Police Officer determine that a person has been drinking?
- Does alcohol effect men and women differently?
- How about a smaller person vs. larger person, who gets drunk quicker?
I want to know what you want to know about the laws and myths about drinking and driving or DUI offences.
Post your questions here as comments, and I’ll do my best to answer them next week.
Discuss this in the forums here:
http://www.rv.net/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21051365/gotomsg/21051365/p/1.cfm#21051365
Jan-E
Here is a new state PSA from montana for drinking and driving but it also incorporates not wearing a seat-belt.
http://www.youtube.com/banikMDT
The victim of the accident, Jeremy, had just came back to Montana with his wife and two small children. He and a friend were driving home together when the driver lost control and Jeremy was thrown from the vehicle. Because the friend was drunk, he is sitting in jail for manslaughter and you have a wife without a husband and two kids without their daddy. This is such an awesome video, I wish it were required in Driver’s Ed and then a refresher course at about 30.
Mark Skotek
I have a commercial Drivers licence and The limit is .03 even if I am off duty in my own car so I cant even drink with a meal and legally drive from the resturant. So I don’t gamble because I can be hit by someone else And be arested.
Pingback: Drinking and Driving Part 2
Tina
My brother drove up and got out of a car that his friend “gave” him…he could hardly stand up. When I said oh my God, you are drunk driving and he cussed me out, I was so shocked. But sad to say, I don’t have a clue how to handle these things, what should I have done? When he got back in the car, I did manage to get him to just sit there until his son came and got him. Should I have called the police? Now I also know he is driving around like that all the time, is there anything to be done about that?
John
Great idea for a blog. There are a couple of things I wanted to point out.
All states in the U.S. including the District of Columbia are now at the .08 limit.
Also, Most states in the U.S. have two different DWI offenses.
1) impairment offense – If you are found to be impaired regardless of what your BAC level is. Impairment is generally determined by utilizing field sobriety tests.
2) Illegal per se (.08) offense – If it’s determined that your BAC is .08 or greater, regardless of your level of impairment….You don’t have to be over the legal limit to get a DWI.
Randy
This will be an interesting blog to watch. Hopefully the information dispensed here will be taken more in the light of educated prevention rather than how to “get away with it”. I, too, am a career LEO and a TI (Technical Investigator; one step below an Accident Reconstructionist) and have had siginificant exposure to the results of drinking and driving.
The economic impact on a family, even if no collision is involved, is significant. Loss of license, increased insurance costs, possible loss of employment; all reduce the amount of funds otherwise available for maintaining and/or improving the financial status of the family.
Belinda
My son was killed at the age of 2 by a drunk driver running a red light at 65 mph impact. I survived crash. End of story.
Rob Robinson
While it is universally accepted that drinking and driving is not a good thing I am beginning to notice in the news, internet forums and other sources that there is rising concern over other impairments (drugs, loud music etc) I recently read where some ‘experts’ are claiming cell phone usage and test messaging are equal in impairment to DUI of drugs and booze. Not intending to sidetrack the drinking issue but I think we need to get a handle on all issues that impair a drivers ability.
Scott
An interesting blog.
On the RV.Net Forum itself from time to time I have found myself discussing the laws as it relates to my 25 years of law enforcement experience. Most of that time has been spent as a Patrol Officer. I am not an Accident Reconstructionist but can attest to the negative cause and effects of driving while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Injury and death are certainly the worse scenarios but the cost of insurance, lost wages, loss of a driver’s license and the possibility of jail time should be on everyone’s mind before taking that first drink and certainly before putting a key in the ignition.
Some of the questions posed here may create a false sense of security when one is looking for a remedy or a way to beat the system.
I believe a designated driver is the most optimum way to have a great time so as not to be concerned with or by “What do Police look for?” or “Should I take a breath test?”.