Drinking and Driving Laws in California
Drunk driving laws in The State of California are similar to many other DUI laws across the United States.The California DUI law prohibits a person from driving when they have a concentration of .08 percent or more alcohol in their blood system. This is the standard measurement use by most states for the "impaired" driver.
Using the Blood Alcohol Concentration Chart:
Find your weight, Then, look for the total number of drinks you have had and compare that to the time interval shown. If your blood alcohol concentration level is in the gray zone, your chances of having an accident are five times higher than if you had no drinks, and 25 times higher if your blood alcohol concentration level is in the black zone.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION CHART
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BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION CHART Continued
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How many drinks does it take to reach the legal limit in California?
This is a difficult question to answer, however some studies have show that your blood alcohol content rises .05 percent for each drink taken. The fact is, it takes very little alcohol to become legally drunk and physical characteristics, such as weight, gender, and body fat percentage are all factors in
the drunk driver equation.
The best answer is to have zero drinks before you drive. The State of California has the "Table" shown above to give guidelines for drinking and driving. This table isn't a legal reference for how much alcohol can be consumed before you are considered a drunk driver or over the legal limit, however it does offer a resource to reference if you are looking for some basic guidelines.
Drunk Driving Laws in California
While Driving in the State of California it is illegal to :
Drivers under 21 may not have beer, wine or liquor in their vehicle while they are driving alone. (Their may be exceptions for work related driving)
Drivers under 21 with a blood alcohol concentration level (BAC) of .01 or higher.
Drivers Under 21 after consuming alcohol in any form, including cough syrup, and prescription drugs.
Any driver with a BAC .08 or higher.
Any vehicle requiring a commercial driver license with a BAC of .04 percent or higher
Driver under 18, ANY measurable blood alcohol concentration.
As you can read above, in the State of California has strict drunk driving laws for drivers under the age of 21 (.01%) and a "no tolerance" law for drivers under the age of 18. In addition a driver of a commercial vehicle is only allowed to have a .04% BAC.
California Drunk Driving Fines & Penalties
First Drunk Driving Conviction
Jail for no less than 96 hours and no more than 6 months. The fine will be no less than $390 and no more than $1,000. Your drivers license will be suspended for six months, however, if allowed the court may grant the convicted a temporary restricted license. Your drivers license will not be reinstated until proof of financial responsibility and proof that you have completed a "driving under the influence" program approved by the state.
Second Drunk Driving Conviction (within 10 years of the first Conviction)
Jail for no less than 90 days and no more than 1 year. The fine will be no less than $390 and no more than $1,000 . Your drivers license will be suspended for 1 year. Your drivers license will not be reinstated until proof of financial responsibility and proof that you have completed a "driving under the influence" program approved by the state.
Third Drunk Driving Conviction
Jail for no less than 120 days and no more than 1 year. The fine will be no less than $390 and no more than $1,000 . You will be considered by the state a "habitual traffic offender" for 3 years following your conviction and have your license suspended for 2 years. Your drivers license will not be reinstated until proof of financial responsibility and proof that you have completed a "driving under the influence" program approved by the state. The person may apply for a restricted driver's license under certain circumstances by the court.
Fourth Drunk Driving Conviction
Jail or Prison or both, for no less than 180 days and no more than 1 year. The fine will be no less than $390 and no more than $1,000 . You will be considered by the state a "habitual traffic offender" for 3 years following your conviction and have your license revoked for 3 years. Your drivers license will not be reinstated until proof of financial responsibility and proof that you have completed a "driving under the influence" program approved by the state. The person may apply for a restricted driver's license under certain circumstances by the court. The person may apply for a restricted driver's license under certain circumstances by the court.
Additional Information on Drunk Driving Laws in California
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