Drivers who are pulled over by the police may have their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tested if they are suspected of drunk driving. Maryland laws prohibit drivers over 21 years of age from having a 0.08% BAC – the BAC limit is 0.02% for drivers under 21 years and 0.04% for commercial drivers. If a driver’s BAC limit exceeds the legal limit, the driver may be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI), leading to fines and incarceration.
Drivers who have had only a small amount of alcohol may believe their BAC level will test below the legal limit – and they may be right. However, drivers can still face DUI charges. Here how:
How alcohol affects everyone differently
Many people have different tolerances for alcohol. For example, a person who has drunk a lot of alcohol with a high concentration may show fewer signs of inebriation than someone who has only had a single beer. There are many reasons why this can happen, such as body weight, genetics, age and health conditions.
It is often important for drivers to be aware of how alcohol affects them. Even if a driver tests below the legal limit, they could still drive recklessly or violate traffic laws because of alcohol consumption. The police may determine that a driver was impaired behind the wheel, leading to a DUI charge.
If a driver’s BAC level is below the legal limit but is facing a DUI, there may have been a mistake that led to an arrest. DUI charges can be contested, protecting a driver from criminal punishments.