Drunk driving laws designate that any individual with a blood alcohol content of .08 or greater is considered too intoxicated to drive. While this is the clear line that the law draws, how fine is that line? The major warning given to drivers is that if they you can feel fine, but if you don’t know whether you are below or above the set amount. If it is that hard to know whether you are above or below the line, how defined is that line?
Even though it may be hard for a driver to instinctively know whether he or she is above or below that line, law enforcement officials take it very seriously. When alcohol is involved in a motor vehicle accident — especially a fatal one — a driver’s blood alcohol content even slightly above the line is used as a basis for serious charges.
A college student was recently charged for his role in a fatal vehicle accident. The 22-year-old student was involved in the crash and one of the passengers did not survive the injuries. The young man was driving the car with his friends at the time of the crash, when he lost control and hit a tree.
Officers say that the man had a blood alcohol level of .089 and that speed may have been a factor in the crash. He was arrested and subsequently charged with vehicular homicide, aggravated DUI assault and other charges related to the level of intoxication. The report did not indicate whether there were other factors involved in causing the crash.
Source: abc local, “College student charged in fatal DUI crash,” Sept. 27, 2012
Uncovering the truth of an accident in which alcohol may have been a factor is only one of the things an experienced defense attorney can do. Our drunk driving defense firm helps individuals charged with related offenses.