BAC and Drunk Driving in Illinois

In Illinois, just as in each of the other 49 states, a person who is driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is considered legally intoxicated. However, there are cases where a person can be charged with drunk driving when they have a BAC of .05 to .08, if law enforcement produces additional evidence pointing to a driver’s impairment.

The BAC is determined by the ratio of alcohol to a person’s blood, and can also be estimated by testing samples of his or her breath. Alcohol is absorbed quickly, going from a person’s stomach, into the bloodstream, and then traveling up to the brain. The first traces of alcohol can usually be detected within 30 minutes to an hour after a person has had a drink.

Many people are under the impression that the type of alcohol they drink makes a difference – but that is a mistake. A typical drink contains about one-half ounce of alcohol. This is roughly the amount of alcohol which is found in a typical 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, or a “shot” of distilled liquor.

There are several factors which can impact how fast BAC increases. These factors include:

• How many drinks a person has. The more drinks, the higher the BAC test results;
• How quickly the drinks are consumed. Drinking quickly results in a higher BAC than if the consumption is spread out over a longer time period;
• How full or empty your stomach is. Eating food while drinking will help slow down the absorption of the alcohol into your system;
• A person’s gender. Pound per pound, women tend to have more body fat than water compared to men. Alcohol is not absorbed into fat cells easily, therefore, it will typically show up longer in a woman’s BAC than in a man’s; and
• How much a person weighs. The more a person weighs, the more water they have in their system. This water dilutes the alcohol, which results in a lower BAC level.

The penalties for drunk driving convictions in Illinois can be harsh. Even a first offense results in a license suspension for one year. If the driver is under 21, a conviction means that he or shToggle editore will lose driving privileges for two years. Second or multiple offenses not only result in the loss of your driver's license, but also in jail time and hefty fines.

If you have been arrested for drunk driving, contact an experienced Arlington Heights defense attorney. Call Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law at 847-253-3400 today.

Sources:

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf

http://www.nhtsa.gov/links/sid/ABCsBACWeb/page2.htm