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