A DUI may result in steep penalties, fines, and damage to one’s reputation. However, multiple offenses are not uncommon because of a lack of knowledge about the effects alcohol has on the body and how police determine impairment. By understanding how blood alcohol levels work, you can prevent further offenses. 

What Are Tips to Prevent Another DUI?

1. Know the Penalties 

Knowing the consequences often act as a powerful deterrent. If arrested for another DUI within seven years of the last, you will see an increase in punishments. 

In Arizona, second offenses can see an individual jailed between 30 and 90 days and will be fined $500. Their license will also be suspended for a year. After that year, an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) will be installed in their vehicle. The driver won’t be able to start the car without passing the attached breathalyzer test.

A third offense results in a minimum of four months in jail, a minimum fine of $750, a one-year license suspension, and an IID installation. 

While refusing a chemical test if pulled over is entirely legal, it will still result in a suspended license for up to two years. 

2. Understand Intoxication Levels

Drivers 21 years old and above will be charged with a DUI if their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is .08% and above. For commercial drivers, it’s lowered to .04%. No driver below 21 can have any alcohol in their system while driving. 

Depending on the alcohol of choice, a single drink is approximately equal to five ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, and 1.5 ounces of 80 proof liquor. 

The weight of the average male is approximately 197 pounds. After four drinks in an hour, their BAC might be .064%, impairing driving abilities. After five, their BAC may be .08%, which is over the legal limit. 

The average female weighs approximately 170 pounds. Three drinks in an hour can raise their BAC to .05% or .06%, impairing their driving abilities. After four, the BAC levels can be between .07% and .08%. 

However, everyone metabolizes and experiences the effects of alcohol differently. Some have a higher tolerance for it than others regardless of weight or gender. Police-grade breathalyzers are available to drivers to prevent DUIs from occurring. 

3. Coffee Doesn’t Work

Coffee doesn’t decrease the amount of alcohol in the body, nor does it nullify alcohol’s effects. Regardless of gender, weight, or tolerance level, alcohol leaves the system at a rate of .015% an hour. 

DUI accusations can have many consequences. Whether it’s the first, second, or third occurrence, you are entitled to legal representation. As a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Lee Novak Attorney at Law has over 30 years of trial experience. He’ll work with you to create a detailed and rigorous defense at an affordable rate. For more information on his practice areas, visit his website. Serving the areas of Bullhead City, Lake Havasu, and Kingman, AZ, call (928) 718-1700 for a consultation.