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The BAC limit in most states is basically two drinks. That's moderate drinking, but if you get pulled over that's a DUI. If you have one drink but your breath

The BAC limit in most states is basically two drinks. That's moderate drinking, but if you get pulled over that's a DUI. If you have one drink but your breath is too hot, that's a DUI. If you have two drinks, walk for 6 hours and get behind the wheel, that's also a DUI because the time for your BAC to go down is more or less "all night". The legal limit is very, very low, to the point where reasonable behavior is illegal. Basically the rule is "if you've had any alcohol in the last 24 hours, don't drive". Most people think you can have one or two and drive home, but you can't.

djrogers 9y ago
> If you have two drinks, walk for 6 hours and get behind the wheel, that's also a DUI because the time for your BAC to go down is more or less "all night". Completely untrue - I've been a 'subject' in police department intoxication training, and have watched the BAC of myself and my fellow 'subjects' drop rather predicatbly over the course of an hour or two from 'going to jail' to 'probably shouldn't have driven but not over the limit'. > The legal limit is very, very low, to the point where reasonable behavior is illegal. Also untrue for most people - yes, if you are a high-function alcoholic you may be more able to perform basic tasks while at .08 or .1, but most people are significantly reduced in capcity when actually tested (not just 'I feel fine').
- camgunz 9y ago
  > Completely untrue - I've been a 'subject' in police department intoxication training, and have watched the BAC of myself and my fellow 'subjects' drop rather predicatbly over the course of an hour or two from 'going to jail' to 'probably shouldn't have driven but not over the limit'. This all depends on your body weight, your sex, your genetic ability to metabolize alcohol, what you're doing, and what you've eaten. It's also important to say most people don't carry around a field breathalyzer, so you can't tell how many hours you'll need to get under the limit because you have no idea what your BAC is.
dragonwriter 9y ago
> The BAC limit in most states is basically two drinks. Very roughly true. > If you have two drinks, walk for 6 hours and get behind the wheel, that's also a DUI because the time for your BAC to go down is more or less "all night". No, it's in the neighborhood of 1 hour to drop 0.01% from most sources I can find. EDIT: > The legal limit is very, very low, to the point where reasonable behavior is illegal. No, slamming two drinks and hopping immediately behind the wheel is not even approximately reasonable behavior.
- camgunz 9y ago
  > No, it's in the neighborhood of 1 hour to drop 0.01% from most sources I can find. Those are general guidelines. If you think they will apply to you then you're gambling. There are so many factors that influence this that the only safe thing to do is just not drive if you've been drinking at all. > No, slamming two drinks and hopping immediately behind the wheel is not even approximately reasonable behavior. Hey I'm not at all saying that. I'm saying if you have two beers in an hour -- which is completely reasonable -- and then drive home, you're probably driving drunk under the law.
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    > Those are general guidelines. Well, actually 0.01% / 1 hour is a sizable cushion on top of the general guidelines, but sure. > If you think they will apply to you then you're gambling. Well, yeah, just like I'm gambling when I assume that I won't spontaneously development autobrewery syndrome and be intoxicated without drinking anything. > There are so many factors that influence this that the only safe thing to do is just not drive if you've been drinking at all. That's only a little less of an overstatement than to says that the only way to be safe from DUI arrest is never to drive at all.
    - camgunz 9y ago
      > That's only a little less of an overstatement than to says that the only way to be safe from DUI arrest is never to drive at all. This is true. In most (all?) states, failing a roadside sobriety test is cause for a DUI arrest, and those are essentially subjective. Furthermore they're administered under extremely stressful circumstances, usually the terrain is uneven, cars are flying by, there are a dozen cops, it's nighttime and the lights are blinding, etc. If the officer thinks you're under the influence of _anything_ they can arrest you, with or without a test. The best defense you have against this is to never get in a car. The next best thing is to never to drive after you've had a drink in the last 24 hours.

djrogers 9y ago

> If you have two drinks, walk for 6 hours and get behind the wheel, that's also a DUI because the time for your BAC to go down is more or less "all night". Completely untrue - I've been a 'subject' in police department intoxication training, and have watched the BAC of myself and my fellow 'subjects' drop rather predicatbly over the course of an hour or two from 'going to jail' to 'probably shouldn't have driven but not over the limit'. > The legal limit is very, very low, to the point where reasonable behavior is illegal. Also untrue for most people - yes, if you are a high-function alcoholic you may be more able to perform basic tasks while at .08 or .1, but most people are significantly reduced in capcity when actually tested (not just 'I feel fine').

camgunz 9y ago
> Completely untrue - I've been a 'subject' in police department intoxication training, and have watched the BAC of myself and my fellow 'subjects' drop rather predicatbly over the course of an hour or two from 'going to jail' to 'probably shouldn't have driven but not over the limit'. This all depends on your body weight, your sex, your genetic ability to metabolize alcohol, what you're doing, and what you've eaten. It's also important to say most people don't carry around a field breathalyzer, so you can't tell how many hours you'll need to get under the limit because you have no idea what your BAC is.

dragonwriter 9y ago

> The BAC limit in most states is basically two drinks. Very roughly true. > If you have two drinks, walk for 6 hours and get behind the wheel, that's also a DUI because the time for your BAC to go down is more or less "all night". No, it's in the neighborhood of 1 hour to drop 0.01% from most sources I can find. EDIT: > The legal limit is very, very low, to the point where reasonable behavior is illegal. No, slamming two drinks and hopping immediately behind the wheel is not even approximately reasonable behavior.

camgunz 9y ago
> No, it's in the neighborhood of 1 hour to drop 0.01% from most sources I can find. Those are general guidelines. If you think they will apply to you then you're gambling. There are so many factors that influence this that the only safe thing to do is just not drive if you've been drinking at all. > No, slamming two drinks and hopping immediately behind the wheel is not even approximately reasonable behavior. Hey I'm not at all saying that. I'm saying if you have two beers in an hour -- which is completely reasonable -- and then drive home, you're probably driving drunk under the law.
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  > Those are general guidelines. Well, actually 0.01% / 1 hour is a sizable cushion on top of the general guidelines, but sure. > If you think they will apply to you then you're gambling. Well, yeah, just like I'm gambling when I assume that I won't spontaneously development autobrewery syndrome and be intoxicated without drinking anything. > There are so many factors that influence this that the only safe thing to do is just not drive if you've been drinking at all. That's only a little less of an overstatement than to says that the only way to be safe from DUI arrest is never to drive at all.
  - camgunz 9y ago
    > That's only a little less of an overstatement than to says that the only way to be safe from DUI arrest is never to drive at all. This is true. In most (all?) states, failing a roadside sobriety test is cause for a DUI arrest, and those are essentially subjective. Furthermore they're administered under extremely stressful circumstances, usually the terrain is uneven, cars are flying by, there are a dozen cops, it's nighttime and the lights are blinding, etc. If the officer thinks you're under the influence of _anything_ they can arrest you, with or without a test. The best defense you have against this is to never get in a car. The next best thing is to never to drive after you've had a drink in the last 24 hours.