What is Blood Alcohol Concentration? And How Does It Affect My California DUI?
Los Angeles, CA- Have you been charged with a DUI in Los Angeles? If you are facing a DUI charge, USAttorneys thinks you should be aware of how your blood alcohol concentration when you were arrested affects your charge and the penalties you receive.
First you need to understand what blood alcohol concentration is. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration blood alcohol concentration: “The amount of alcohol in a person’s body is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood.” As you drink, the alcohol in your wine, beer or shot, if absorbed into the bloodstream and small intestines.
Obviously, the more you drink, the more intoxicated you become but how intoxicated you become depends on several factors such as your tolerance, your height, your weight and how quickly your body metabolizes alcohol. You can drink two beers and hardly reach the legal limit while a someone else can drink the same amount and have a high BAC. The standard rule is to wait for one hour for every drink you’ve had before you drive.
A BAC calculator found on the internet can give you an approximation of how many drinks you need before you exceed California’s legal limit 0.08, but the best policy is not to drink and drive if you still feel the effects of alcohol.
In California, like most states, your blood alcohol concentration affects the seriousness of your DUI charged. If your BAC is 0.08, you face routine DUI charges, but if your BAC is above 0.15 percent, it is a possible aggravating factor and could lead to serious penalties including jail time up to 48 hours, higher fines and a longer license suspension period. You could also be ordered to order to go to rehab or attend alcohol assessment courses.
If your BAC is considered an aggravating factor, it could become a problem if you want to negotiate a plea bargain. It is will be tough for you to negotiate for lesser charges or lenient sentencing if you have a high BAC or there are other aggravating factors present at the time of your arrest. Having someone negotiating on your behalf and making sure your rights are respected will give you a better chance of mitigating the seriousness of your DUI arrest.
If you are charged with a DUI and aggravating factors apply, you should speak with a DUI lawyer in Los Angeles to help you with your defense. USAttorneys can connect you with an attorney today and discuss your charges. A DUI conviction will impact many aspects of your life and leave you with a mark on your record, so it is in your best interest to get legal help as soon as possible. Contact a lawyer today to set up a consultation. You need legal advice before deciding how to deal with your aggravated DUI charges.
