You don't have to be drunk
to get charged with DWI. Regardless of what you perceive as your
alcohol tolerance level, you get booked on driving while intoxicated
(DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) when your blood alcohol
falls below the threshold of 0.04% or 0.08%, depending on the vehicle
type and state law. Besides testing for blood alcohol content (BAC)
through a breathalyzer, a driver may also be tested for alcohol in
his blood and urine. The cop that pulls you over may also administer
a standard field sobriety test, such as standing on one leg for 30
seconds.
In North Carolina, failing
the BAC limit of 0.08% will warrant a DWI charge. Accidents related
to drunk driving have become alarming enough that the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that states lower
their BAC threshold to 0.05% from 0.08%. Yearly, 10,0000 people die
in drunk driving accidents, and 146,000 are injured.
While public response to
this recommendation are mixed, some authorities in the beverage
association argue that taking the variables of weight, gender, and
stomach contents, among others, 0.08% is the level that registers
significant impairment among drivers on average. Lowering the BAC
will only criminalize even responsible adults who drink moderately.
If you must drink, have a
designated driver bring you home, so plan ahead before drinking.
Contrary to popular belief, taking a shower, eating a big meal, or
drinking hot coffee will not make you less drunk. Only time will
sober you up.
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