BAC Information

In the United States, a driver may be arrested for driving under the influence if his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit. For drivers over the age of 21, the legal BAC limit is .08%, while the legal BAC limit for minors and commercial drivers is much lower. If you have recently been charged with drunk driving because you were over the legal limit, you should contact an experienced defense lawyer to learn about BAC information.

Blood alcohol content is the concentration amount of alcohol in your blood. The more alcohol is in your system, the more your driving ability is affected. However, even if your driving ability is not impaired, you may still be arrested for DUI if your BAC is over the limit.

Law enforcement agents use three test methods to measure blood alcohol content: testing of blood, breath, or urine. The blood test must be administered in a hospital or clinic setting by a professional. While the blood test is the most accurate, the breath test, or breathalyzer, is the most commonly utilized test. The breath test measures the alcohol in the lungs to calculate the amount of alcohol in the blood. Of the three tests, the urine test is used the least.

It is difficult to determine how many drinks will push you over the BAC limit. Factors such as your gender, weight, and metabolism affect your BAC. In general, a 170-pound man can drink four drinks on an empty stomach in one hour before reaching a .08% BAC. A 140-pound woman would reach this limit after consuming three drinks on an empty stomach in an hour.

Penalties for operating a vehicle with a BAC over the legal limit include incarceration (jail time), fines, probation, loss of driving privileges, and mandatory alcohol education classes. If your BAC is excessively high (.20% or more), you may face extended jail time and even stiffer fines.

If you are facing drunk-driving charges, contact a DUI lawyer about your state’s BAC information. If your attorney finds that the breathalyzer produced inaccurate BAC results, your charges may be minimized or dismissed.