As we all know, driving after consuming alcohol is dangerous. There are many impacts that alcoholic beverages can have on your cognitive and motor abilities. These effects increase more with each drink. The hazards don’t affect only the drunk driver. They put others on the road at risk, which is why all states have strict laws against impaired driving.
When you are pulled over for the suspicion of drunk driving, the officers will attempt to determine your blood alcohol concentration. In New Hampshire, the legal limit is .08 percent. Anyone at or above this limit will face criminal charges. Here are some ways that BAC can impact your abilities:
- BAC of .020 to .039 percent: Feelings of slight euphoria and relaxation; less shy
- BAC of .040 to .059 percent: Slight judgment and memory impairment; decline in cautious behavior; lowered inhibitions
- BAC of .06 to .099 percent: Judgment and self-control decline more; some impairment of vision, reaction time, balance and hearing; decline in memory and reasoning
- BAC of .100 to .129 percent: Impairment of peripheral vision, hearing, reaction time and vision; loss of good judgment; motor coordination significantly declines
- BAC of .130 to .159 percent: Lack of physical control; blurry vision; reduced euphoria; loss of balance; severe motor impairment
- BAC of .160 to .199 percent: Appearance of being a “sloppy drunk”; feeling very unwell; nausea
- BAC of .200 to .249 percent: Possible blackouts; needs help walking; complete mental confusion; vomiting and nausea
- BAC of .250 to .399 percent: Loss of consciousness; alcohol poisoning
- BAC of .400 percent and higher: Possible death; coma
As you can see, your ability to drive will decrease as your BAC increases. There are no quick ways to get the alcohol out of your system. Instead, the body has to naturally metabolize the alcohol to get rid of it. This occurs at a rate of .015 percent per hour.
Anyone stopped by police because of a reasonable suspicion of drunk driving should be prepared for a lengthy battle. You will need to evaluate your options. Some aspects of a drunk driving case, including a possible driver’s license suspension defense, are time-sensitive.