Posted on 01/03/2017 1:17:48 PM PST by Trump20162020
If a tough new proposal in Utah becomes law, just a few drinks — or even a few swigs — could put you over the limit for drunk driving.
An effort is underway in the state to lower the legal blood-alcohol concentration for driving to .05 — a first in the nation. Currently, all 50 states have a .08 cap, eschewing suggestions from the National Transportation Safety Board to redefine what constitutes drunk driving.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I just don’t believe this is about safety. Or impairment.
.05? Two beers in an hour, in spite of what the article states.
As someone else on this thread mentioned, the 0.08% BAC is the threshold at which DUI is presumptive. No other evidence is required. The BAC at which one is impaired varies widely across individuals. I know some people who shouldn’t drive after one drink, and some who drive better after knocking down three or four beers than others do stone cold sober.
The BAC is an objective standard that is reasonable. What else would you rely on? Solely the subjective, shifting testimony and memory of an officer or witnesses many months or years past the time of occurrence? The solid BAC evidence is as much a protection against such poor witness evidence as it is implicatory.
Utah tries to prohibit alcohol every few years. Mormons, don’tcha know????
I'm sure that HE was grateful for this standard.
Oh, please! Ask the loved ones of the 10's of thousands who don't have their loved ones with them because of such criminals.
I agree that the BAC test is better for most people than, for example, a field sobriety test. Every lawyer I have discussed this with says never agree to a field test. Always insist on a BAC test. But police have video cams that can show erratic driving, slurred speech, etc. and such evidence is often decisive to a judge or jury.
IMO this is stupid!
It will lead to many more hit and run incidents.
That’s ridiculous, they’re going to start arresting and convicting people who haven’t had a single drop to drink.
Don’t drink and drive
You are an idiot
I have a breathylizer. It’s been an eye opener. You have three beers or three glasses of wine. You’re BAC will be well above .05 quickly and it will take a couple hours, after you stop for it to come down in most cases. ANyone drinking and driving in a state with a .05 level is stupid.
Since when is it a necessity to drink and drive?
G-D D@MN those roadblocks. Nothing like coming home late at night, stone sober, and waiting an hour and a half for them to wave you through.
I assume this was years before dashboard and body cams. A couple of years ago, I was a juror in a trial where the defendant (and his lawyer) foolishly decided to roll the dice and hope the jury would think the dashboard video of his field sobriety test was inconclusive. 6-0 to convict.
Also won't do a thing about the hard-core drunks who usually blow over .15% BAC.
This is all for lawyers. $2,000 fine and court costs and you get the license back.
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