If you’re pulled over and have your blood alcohol levels tested, you know that you could face a DUI if it comes back over 0.08 percent. A blood alcohol concentration test isn’t always accurate, so there are defenses if it does come back positive. The BAC test levels give law enforcement the information they need to make an informed decision over whether or not you should be driving, but there are factors that can influence the outcome of the test.
The truth about this test is that it only analyzes the amount of alcohol in your blood stream at that moment, and it isn’t always accurate. For example, if you recently used mouthwash or burp during the test, either could throw off the results.
One thing you can do to make sure you’re never caught with a BAC higher than you expect is to make sure you understand how alcohol affects your body. If you weigh 90 pounds, drinking one drink per hour could raise your BAC as high as .08 percent. For a person between 210 and 229 pounds, one drink per hour will raise the BAC to around .01 to .05 percent. However, for that same person at 210 to 229 pounds, four drinks in an hour would be more than likely to raise his or her blood alcohol concentration to .08 percent or higher.
Typically, it takes an hour per ounce of alcohol for your body to metabolize it, so you can use that to calculate, roughly, your level of intoxication before you ever decide to get behind the wheel. If you choose to and know approximately what your BAC should be, then you’ll be able to point out any discrepancies a test shows when you talk to your attorney.
Source: OHS Health & Safety Services Inc., “Blood Alcohol Levels,” accessed Dec. 23, 2016