Blood Alcohol Concentration

Blood alcohol concentration, or content, (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood stream. In California, it is illegal to drive with a BAC level at or above 0.08%. If a driver is under the age of 21, he/she is not permitted to drive with a BAC at or above 0.01%. Any person found driving with a BAC level at or above 0.08% or 0.01% respectively will be arrested and charged with DUI.

AFTER ARREST
In California, when you apply for a driver’s license you are required to sign an agreement to submit to a chemical test if arrested for suspicion of DUI. This is known as the implied consent law.  If arrested for DUI you must submit to a chemical test.  Failure to submit to a chemical test will result in a one year suspension of your driver’s license, separate and apart from the criminal aspect of the case.

PRIOR TO ARREST
Under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, you are not required to blow into the breath machine before being arrested for DUI.   However, if after you arrested for DUI, you must submit to a chemical test or risk losing your license for one year.

When a person drives with a BAC level above the legal limit, his/her physical and mental capabilities can be jeopardized, and he/she is more likely to be involved in a serious accident. There are several ways a police officer can test a driver’s BAC level. The fastest and most popular way to test a driver’s BAC level is with a breath machine. When a person blows into the machine, it measures the alcohol concentration found in his/her deep lung region, which supposedly correlates to the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream.

Another common way for law enforcement officers to test BAC levels is through a blood test. Blood tests are much more accurate than breath tests, and are typically administered at the police station by a trained technician.  The advantage to choosing a blood test is that we can have an independent laboratory analyze the blood sample. In cases where the driver is suspected of driving under the influence of drugs, he/she is required to submit to a blood or urine test.

Most people are surprised to hear that these tests are not 100% accurate and are prone to human error. An experienced attorney can challenge the validity of these tests to get your charges reduced or dropped. In addition, a skilled attorney can help you avoid the legal penalties you would potentially face if you were convicted of DUI, such as probation, steep fines, jail, alcohol treatment programs, community service, and a mark on your permanent record.

Contact Ventura & San Fernando Valley & Santa Barbara DUI Attorneys

If you were arrested and charged for DUI, you need to contact an experienced attorney immediately. At Gutierrez Curtis Gutierrez, we have over 60 years of legal and judicial experience, and have handled tens of thousands of persons throughout Ventura, Van Nuys, Santa Barbara, and Oxnard.  As retired judges and former prosecutors, we understand how both the prosecution and the judges think, giving us a unique advantage. Over 60 years of legal and judicial experience have given us superior insight into California’s DUI laws, and we utilize that knowledge and wisdom to protect our clients’ rights, fight on behalf of their best interest, and increase their chances of success in court.

The Intoximeters Inc. "Drink Wheel" is a form that you can fill out. Upon completion we will instantly compute your estimated blood/breath alcohol concentration ("BAC") based on the information that you have provided and return that estimate to you. It is presented as a public service to Intoximeters web site visitors. Its primary purpose is to provide useful information about the responsible use of alcohol.

Why is it called a "Drink Wheel"?

We call it the "Drink Wheel" because it is based on various paper and cardboard BAC calculators that are given out in alcohol awareness programs, some of which are in the form of a wheel that you can spin around to calculate your estimated BAC based on what and how much you have had to drink.

I have had US beer(s) Light beer(s) Reduced alcohol beer(s) Pint(s) of beer Malt liquor(s) Glass(es) of table wine Glass(es) of Champagne Glass(es) of Fortified/Dessert wine Bloody Mary(s) Gin and Tonic(s) Highball(s) Irish Coffee(s) On the Rocks Pina Colada(s) Screwdriver(s) Tom Collins Whiskey Sour(s) Margarita(s) Airline miniature(s) Gimlet(s) Old-fashioned(s) Mint Julep(s) Black Russian(s) Dry Martini(s) Manhattan(s) Rob Roy(s) Double(s) on the Rocks Frozen Daquiri(s) over a period of hour(s).

I am Male Female
(Explanation of gender differences in Blood Alcohol Concentration)

and I weigh Pounds Kilograms

and I live in United States Australia Austria Belgium Canada Cyprus Finland France Korea Hong Kong Netherlands New Zealand Norway Portugal South Africa Spain Sweden Taiwan United Kingdom (so that the result is displayed in the appropriate units).

If you are in need of a dedicated and compassionate Ventura, Oxnard, San Fernando Valley, or Santa Barbara DUI attorney, contact the law offices of Gutierrez Curtis Gutierrez, for your free consultation at 888-RET-JUDGE, or 805-351-3797.