4 Reasons Drunk Driving Is Risky
As a leading San Diego DUI attorney, I want to share four interesting facts you probably don’t already know about what happens to your body when you’re drunk and the consequences that can follow. Check them out and give a second thought to driving while under the influence.
1- Your Body Goes Berserk
From the moment you take a drink of alcohol, your body begins a process to keep its systems running flawlessly and in sync. A small amount of alcohol immediately moves into blood vessels in your mouth and tongue
before it even hits the stomach, where 20% more is absorbed. Finally, the remaining 75%-85% of alcohol is absorbed into the blood via your small intestine.
Your liver is able to keep up with your alcohol consumption at an average rate of one standard drink per hour (depending on your body type, gender, etc.). However, if you consume any alcohol at a faster rate than that, your body can’t keep up and this will leave you impaired.
2- A Breathalyzer Test May Be Inaccurate
Up to 8% of the alcohol you drink is breathed out, which is the alcohol that a breathalyzer measures. In California, it’s illegal to operate a regular passenger vehicle if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in G/DL is 0.08% or higher (if you’re over age 21). The problem is, there are many factors that can all play independently or together that can result in an incorrect alcohol breath reading. For example, did the officer perform the test correctly? Did the machine work properly? Was the sample transported and stored improperly? Each of these mistakes can lead to a false result.3- Driving While Impaired Has Serious Consequences
You won’t be given just a slap on the wrist if a police officer pulls you over for drunk driving and considers you to be above the legal limit. There are various penalties that will ensue if you are found guilty. This could include the following:- Fees and fines equaling $800-$2000
- Three-month court-approved alcohol program
- Suspended driver’s license for 6 months
- 6 months in county jail
- Probation for 3-5 years
- Permanent criminal record
4- Hiring a Private DUI Attorney May Help Reduce Your Charges
While you will be appointed a public defender if you can’t afford to hire a private DUI lawyer, hiring your own does come with a lot of advantages. Not only will you be able to choose who represents you, but generally speaking private lawyers can give you a lot more face-to-face time and personalized service, and can even save you time in court. Even more importantly, hiring an experienced dui lawyer will give you the best chance of having your DUI reduced to either a “wet reckless” or “reckless driving” charge, or even possibly dropped altogether. Plus, even if you are found guilty, a good lawyer can help get your sentence reduced. If you find yourself in a bad situation having been arrested for a DUI, getting yourself an experienced DUI attorney such as Bradley Corbett can go a long way to getting your life’s pieces back in order.
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.