As the drinking culture plays a major role in California, many people have come up with myths that purportedly beat the breath test and avoid being arrested for a DUI. Read on as we debunk some of the California DUI myths and misconceptions.
You Are Safe If Your Blood Alcohol Content Is below 0.08%
If you think that you’re safe so long as your blood alcohol content (BAC) is below 0.08%, you’re wrong. You could still be charged with DUI even if you only had a glass of alcohol and your BAC is below 0.08%, where the police officer believes that your driving has been impaired under the influence of alcohol.
Your BAC Will Decrease If You Eat or Wait for an Hour
Another common DUI myth is that your BAC levels will decrease if you eat or wait for an hour after drinking before driving. However, these have not been scientifically proven to reduce a person’s BAC levels and are thus not methods that could help you avoid getting charged with a DUI. While eating may reduce the narcotic side effects of alcohol, it has no impact on your BAC levels. Furthermore, if you think waiting it out for an hour after drinking would help reduce your BAC levels, that’s not the case either. Studies have shown that your BAC levels are the highest an hour after drinking.
There is No DUI if You Drive Carefully
Many people believe they will not be caught for DUI if they drive carefully. This is far from true, as even the safest and most careful drivers can still be arrested for DUI. As California and states all over the US are stepping up their DUI regulations, more checkpoints are being set up along roads and popular drinking areas.
A Cup of Coffee or a Cold Shower Makes You Soberer
One of the most common DUI myths is that having a cup of coffee or taking cold showers can make you soberer. But in fact, these acts only help people feel refreshed and awake but do nothing to lower their BAC levels since caffeine does not affect the metabolism of alcohol. Consuming alcohol and coffee may be detrimental to one’s health as the caffeine tends to mask away the alcohol’s depressant effects, resulting in people consuming more alcohol than they can tolerate, thereby increasing the risks of attributable harm.
You Must Be Driving to Be Arrested for DUI
Lastly, it is often believed that to be arrested for DUI, you have to be caught driving. Many people fail to realize that you can still be arrested for a DUI in situations where you’ve gotten off your vehicle and the police officers see that your behavior suggests you are drunk. They may arrest you because they reasonably assume that you are drunk and that your driving is impaired.
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