When a driver is suspected of being impaired, one of the biggest pieces of evidence the police aim to collect is their blood alcohol concentration level – or BAC.
There are a few ways the police can test a driver’s BAC. A driver may be required to provide samples for a urine or blood test. However, police officers commonly ask drivers to perform a breath test. A breath test evaluates a driver’s BAC from the air in their lungs.
It may surprise you, however, to learn that the legal BAC limit that equates to “impaired” varies, depending upon who you are.
Types of BAC limits for California drivers
In California, there are several BAC limits depending on different conditions. Like other states, California has a 0.08% BAC limit for drivers 21 years of age or older. A DUI charge can lead to a suspended license, fines and jail time.
Drivers under 21 years of age have a much stricter BAC limit of 0.01%. Likewise, drivers who are on DUI probation have a BAC limit of 0.01%. The state takes a “zero tolerance” for drinking and driving by those particular populations.
Commercial drivers also have a strict BAC limit of 0.04%. If a commercial driver is charged with a DUI, they could potentially lose their commercial driver’s license, even if they’re caught on their own time.
If you are facing DUI charges, it is important to understand your legal rights. You may have a strong legal defense if your legal rights were violated during a traffic stop, a BAC test was inaccurate or a police officer made a mistake, it may be time to reach out for professional legal guidance to learn more.