Utah Drunk Driving Attorney Talks About The Truth On Sobering Up

By Author: Michael Reason
Total Articles: 14
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Drunk Driving is a problem in this country and one that kills. We all see the commercials on television and know the ramifications of driving after drinking. But in our society there is so much pressure to drink at social and business gatherings, it make makes the problem bigger. And worse than that, is that most people try to beat the system. Most likely if you drink and then drive you are going to need a Utah Drunk Driving Attorney, because the odds are you will be pulled over. And hopefully, you are pulled over before you hurt yourself or others.

So you think, “I’ll just drink a lot of coffee after I drink. That’ll sober me up!” WRONG, says your Utah Drunk Driving Attorney. Only time will sober you up. Drinking lots of coffee will just make you pee more, which can be uncomfortable if you are in a jail cell. “Ok well I’ll pop a mint if I get pulled over.” WRONG AGAIN. Breath mints just make your breathe smell better but does not affect the measurement of alcohol in your blood. Maybe you think that the officer will only give you a breathalyzer test or make you walk the line if he smells alcohol on your ...
... breath. STRIKE THREE. In lieu of an accident, you were probably pulled over for running a red light, swaying in your lane, speeding, or something as stupid as forgetting to turn on your headlights. But the police are well trained to know when someone has been drinking by the way they drive and how they behave when pulled over. Extra minty breathe is just one sign that tips them off. Eating before and after I drink can sober me up. Ok, well this may be partially true; eating a high protein meal before drinking, or even while drinking, can slow the absorption of alcohol in your system. However, downing a huge meal after you are heavily intoxicated is just going to mean a lot more time spent with your head over the toilet. “What if I have been dancing all night? Doesn’t that make you less drunk?” NO. It just makes you sweatier. While a person dancing may become intoxicated more slowly than someone who is sitting at the bar pounding beers, the amount of alcohol in your blood is still present. The only thing that will sober you up is time... or not drinking to the point of intoxication.

So when are you considered sober? Your Utah Drunk Driving Attorney will tell you that body weight and the number of drinks equals the amount of intoxication. The only safe driving limit is zero drinks. Generally speaking, for most people, even after one drink, impairment begins. Three drinks and driving skills are significantly impaired and after 4 or 5 you are legally intoxicated. A drink is considered to be one and a quarter ounces of an 80-proof alcohol or 12 ounces of beer. Surprisingly, a half glass of wine is considered one drink. So when you drink a full glass of wine, you have really had two drinks. Most bars use 1 ounce shots in their drinks and a bottle of beer is typically 8 ounces. A blood alcohol level (BAC) of .03 and under is considered sober. When you move up the chart to .04 to .06 you may experience minor impairment, and for some that impairment can affect driving. A level of .07 to .09 is when you really should not consider driving. Your reaction time, speech, and motor skills are impaired. When you reach .10 to .12 you are significantly impaired and .13 to .15 results in gross motor impairment where you lose balance and your vision is affected. The sloppy, slurring, swaying drunk is at a level of .16 to 19, where dysphoria has set in. Dangerous BAC levels are any level above this, where a drunken stupor sets in at about .30 and you could slip into a coma at .35 and over. A BAC level of 40 and above will result in coma and possible death.

Drivers with an alcohol level of .15 and above are 380 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident than those with a BAC level of .02 or below. So you can see how easy it can be to have one drink and change your life forever. Depending on your arrest charges, your Utah Drunk Driving Attorney may be challenging charges that can range from a fine, suspension of license and community service to time in the slammer, especially if your are involved in a fatal car crash. Your permanent record is damaged forever which can affect future employment and standing in your community. The best way to prevent all of this is not through an attorney, but by preventing it from ever happening. Take precautions so that you are not on the road even after one drink. There is no way around it and it is best to use your energy not to find ways to beat the system, but to learn how to protect yourself from drinking and driving in the first place. A designated driver is always the best idea, but also having a loved one who is available and willing to pick you up, is a great alternative. And as always, the best solution is not to drink and drive.

Michael Reason is an experienced DUI Attorney in Ogden, Utah. When you need experienced attorneys to make sure that your rights are protected, no one will serve you better than the attorneys at Reason Law Offices. You can contact us at http://www.reasonlawoffices.com