Alabama Blood Alcohol Content

Most Alabama drivers know that driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is against the law. However, as evident by the number of DUI arrests made each year, many of these individuals fail to realize that the legal definition of under the influence often differs from their own. In the eyes of the law, any driver who has a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit is considered intoxicated.

Any alcohol that you consume must pass through your bloodstream before it leaves your system. As a result, the more alcohol you drink, the more alcohol enters your bloodstream. The ratio of alcohol to blood is known as blood alcohol content—which, in turn, is used to determine a person’s level of intoxication.

Under state law, all Alabama drivers must adhere to strict BAC limits. These laws state that anyone who is caught driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher can be charged with DUI—regardless of his or her ability to drive. In other words, even if your mental and physical abilities are not impaired, you may still face DUI charges if your BAC is above the legal limit.

On the other hand, there are certain situations where a driver can be charged with DUI without having an illegal BAC. Drivers under 21, for example, can be arrested with a BAC of 0.02% or higher. And, if you are not underage, you can be charged with DUI if your driving abilities are impaired by alcohol use—even if your BAC is well below the legal limit. 

If an officer suspects a driver is under the influence of alcohol, a breath test may be used to determine his or her blood alcohol content. It is important to know that, due to Alabama’s implied consent law, you are required to submit to breath testing if it is requested by a member of law enforcement.

Unfortunately, there are numerous factors that can affect a person’s blood alcohol content, including height, weight, gender, and tolerance to alcohol. Therefore, two people who consume the same amount of alcohol could have extremely different BACs. It’s even possible for a person to have an illegal BAC, yet show no signs of mental and/or physical impairment from alcohol.   

Due to the number of variables that can affect a person’s blood alcohol content, it may be possible to challenge your breath test results in court. At the Whitney B. Polson DUI Defense Office, our attorneys help drivers across the state of Alabama fight their blood alcohol content results in order to reduce or even eliminate DUI charges.

Put our team of legal experts to work for you. Submit your case online today for a free, no-obligation consultation, and learn how you can avoid the penalties of a drunk driving conviction.