BAC Tag Archives — Arizona DUI & Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Published on: March 19, 2014

Arizona’s 7 Year Extreme DUI Trend: .015% BAC Average, Not Exception

Arizona DUI Arrest Statistics

In looking back over the last six years of DUI arrest statistics released by the Arizona Governor’s Office on Highway Safety (AGOHS), we see an alarming trend in DUI arrests with Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) at the “Extreme” levels, which is 0.15 percent or higher. In 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 the average Blood Alcohol Content has been over 0.152 percent. Initial reports released for the first quarter of 2014 are showing relentlessness in this trend. Drinking in excess of the extreme impaired driving laws has evidently become the norm, rather than the exception.

The legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol in Arizona is 0.08 percent. However, a motorist may still be arrested if they are driving under the influence with a BAC lower than 0.08 percent if they are found to be driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle while “impaired to the slightest degree”.Extreme DUI BAC in Arizona is .015 percent; and Super Extreme BAC is .020 percent or greater.

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Published on: August 12, 2013

Robbie Knievel Allegedly Arrested for DUI in Parked Motor Home

By James E. Novak, P.L.L.C.

Rippling Impacts Arizona v. Zaragoza: DUI arrests for being in “actual physical control” of a vehicle

This weekend in the news we heard a popular motorcycle sports celebrity Robbie Knievel was allegedly arrested for DUI. Reports indicate the Police were called to Mr. Knievel’s parked motor home, near a famous Motor Cycle Rally. When they arrived on the scene, they found Mr. Knievel’s motor home parked; with Robbie Knievel patiently texting on his mobile device, while sitting in the driver’s seat of his parked vehicle.

Police reported that when they arrived they smelled a strong odor of alcohol, and asked him if he had been drinking. He admitted that he had been drinking a few beers, but DUI test results allegedly indicated his Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) tested 0.228 percent which was 3 times the legal limit in South Dakota. But there is more to this story. It was reported that the reason police were called to the scene, was that witnesses reported seeing him allegedly driving into two other motorhomes, causing damage, without stopping.

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Published on: May 17, 2013

NTSB Recommends 1 Drink DUI Limit, 0.05% BAC in all States

By James E. Novak, P.L.L.C.

It is estimated that nearly 10,000 people die, 200,000 people are injured, due to DUI involved collisions every year. To combat the problem, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently announced 19 recommendations to reduce DUI fatalities across the country.

A recommendation that has gained much attention is lowering the legal limit of 0.08% Blood Alcohol Limit (BAC) in all states to 0.05 percent. Currently all states have a 0.08% legal limit. At least 100 countries in the world have a 0.05% limit. A spokesperson for the NTSB reported studies that clearly show motorists with a 0.05% BAC or will experience driving impairments that include a decline in cognitive and vision functions. This increases their risk of causing or being involved in motor vehicle collisions resulting in fatality or serious injuries.

Some studies show on average a person weighing 120 pounds or under, may reach .05% BAC after just one drink of intoxicating liquor, and a person weighing 160 pounds or under may reach the 0.05% limit after only two drinks. However, this can vary by gender; metabolism rate; alcohol tolerance; food or absent food; medications; and other factors that exist.

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Published on: October 17, 2012

How Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Levels Impact a Person’s Ability to Drive

By James E. Novak, P.L.L.C.

National Center of Disease Control (CDC) weighs in on predictable effects based on BAC

A person’s BAC refers to the Blood Alcohol Content found in a person’s body. This can be measured through means of a DUI breath or Chemical Blood test. If a certain limit is exceeded, the motorist was found to be driving impaired due to alcohol they will be arrested for DUI charges.

Each state has adopted its own legal limit. In Arizona, the legal limit is 0.08%. Arizona is considered to have one of the motorist DUI laws in the country because it goes a step further. Arizona motorists may be arrested for DUI even if their BAC does not exceed 0.08%; and even if the motorist has not alcohol in their system.

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