Alcohol and the Roads

Without any time to spend, as soon as alcohol is consumed in the body, it is mixed into your blood system. The bloodstream transports the alcohol throughout your body. The more alcohol is consumed, the more intense the effects will be played. Your brain may be totally toxified by the effects, which would hinder your thinking-ability. These toxic effects play a negative role in your driving.

Even the smallest of drinks reduces driving abilities. A drink is worth 12 ounces of alcohol. To compare drinks that differ, you must know the drink size and percentage of alcohol in the drink.

BAC

BAC, Blood Alcohol Content, is the measured amount of alcohol in your body's bloodstream. This can be measured by the police. This will give a percentage, which represents the alcohol in the bloodstream, therefore giving off the level of intoxication.

• Measured: 8/10 --> 8/10 of a drop of an alcoholic beverage in every thousand drops of blood in a person's bloodstream.

Factors

• Gender (Females will have a higher BAC because they don't have an enzyme which breaks down alcohol faster [in men])
• Body Weight (More weight --> Lower BAC)
• Food (More food --> Lower BAC)

Alcohol elimination

Alcohol is eliminated in three procedures:

1. Breath
2. Sweat
3. Oxidation (of the liver)

Time is the only thing that allows alcohol to be completely removed from your body system. It takes 1 1/2+ hours to remove one drink from your body system.

Law

Around 1.5 million are arrested for DUI. It is a criminal offense. 19 states consider drivers older than 21 to be intoxicated if their BAC is 0.08% or higher.

Under 21 years of age with a BAC of at least 0.02% but <0.08% can be met with a 500 dollar fine and a 6-month suspension of your license. Jail time is possible.

If you allow an individual whose license has been revoked/suspended for an alcohol-related violation, you might be charged with a misdemeanor. If...

• 18-20: Buy/Possess/Consume Alcohol = Fined <$2,500, license revoked for a year or so, and possible jail time.
• 13-17: Buy/Possess/Consume Alcohol = Can lose driver's license for 6 months, lose ability to apply for a license until age 18.

Statistics

In 2014, nearly 800 (795) drivers less than 21 years old were victims of an alcohol-caused car.

A survey showed that in a month's worth of time, 28.5% of students in high school in the nation had ridden 1+ times in a motor vehicle operated by an individual under the influence.

A study found out that 1 out of every 3 pedestrians 16+ years were killed in alcohol-driven crashes.

Alcohol & Marijuana

The risk of driving DUI of alcohol and marijuana increases 24 times.

Implied Consent

Under the implied consent laws, you've agreed to take any chemical test upon request, therefore, you're required to take this test. If you're stubborn, your license:

• ...will be suspended for 7 days.
• ...may be suspended for up to a year by the judge.
• If convicted of DUI, additional revocation period will be added.

Children Are Involved

(VA): If charged with a DUI offense and a minor is in the motor vehicle, then you will be under evaluation to receive a(n):

• Extra 5 days in prison.
• More fines: $500 - $1000