Los Angeles DUI Arrest Lawyers
Blood Alcohol Concentration
In California, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than .08 % automatically results in a driving under the influence charge. Typically, a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of less than .05 % results in the driver being let go, but this is not always the case. A person's BAC is not necessarily an indication of how impaired he or she is, though the alcohol content level may be used to establish intoxication according to California law.
How BAC is Determined
In most cases, BAC is measured through a chemical test of a person's breath or blood. A breath test is usually administered after the officer arrests you and takes you to the police station. BAC is supposed to indicate how much alcohol is in 100 milliliters of blood at the time of the test. Blood tests are also used to measure BAC and for the presence of drugs.
There is a common definition that the legal limit for alcohol consumption is "to have only two or three drinks." However, this is not the case. Many factors go into determining what your actual BAC is. How much time you've taken to drink the alcohol and how much you weigh are top factors. Whether you've just finished a drink, eaten recently, your fitness level, and your body's ability to absorb alcohol are also considerations. Each person's body metabolizes alcohol at a different rate as well.
Another common misconception is that BAC is a perfectly accurate representation of how intoxicated an individual is. There is a variety of factors that could result in the misrepresentation of BAC in breathalyzer tests, such as bringing alcohol vapors up from the stomach from vomiting, regurgitation or even a burp, as well as the use of certain kinds of medication and human or mechanical error.
There are Severe Consequences and Penalties for a DUI
Penalties, even for a first-time DUI offender, are strict. They include a driver's license suspension, fines and up to a year in jail. Multiple DUI offenders can be fined thousands of dollars and can be sentenced more than a year in jail.
Don't go it alone—find a top-tier Los Angeles DUI defense lawyer that can help you avoid the severe punishments for drunk driving.
DUI Resource Center
- DUI Defense FAQs
- Boating Under the Influence
- DUI Accidents and Who Pays
- Incorrect Arrest Procedure
- DUI and Loss of Income
- DUI and Loss of Transportation
- Multiple DUI Offenses
- Vehicular Manslaughter
- DUI Fines
- DUI Sentencing
- DUI and Loss of License
- California DUI DMV Hearings
- What Police Look for in a DUI Case
- After a DUI Arrest
- DUI Traffic Stops
- Police Mistakes in DUI Arrests
- DUI Accidents
- DUI Fatalities
- Blood Alcohol Concentration
- Breathalyzers
- Field Sobriety Tests – FST’s
- Blood Tests
- Cognitive Tests
- Dexterity - Field Sobriety Tests
- Preliminary Breath Testing
