Anyone been convicted of DUI after only one drink?

[jodifla]

The Scarlet Letter thread got me looking around on the Internet, and I notice stories of people getting convicted of DUI after having a glass of wine with dinner.

Is this hyperbole, or has it happened to you or someone you know?

 

[kbkids]

I do see your point. To alot of people, one glass of wine is nothing. It used to not be to me either. But now, after not drinking for so many years, one glass of wine would have me snoozing on the couch. No one would want me behind the wheel of a car. So, where do they draw the line?

 

[jodifla]

But since a DUI costs about 10 grand in fees and insurance costs, it hardly seems appropriate punishment.

 

[Tiggeroo]

for dui you have to have a certain blood alcohol level. I can't imagine one drink with dinner would raise your level high enough to fail even in NJ where we have a tough standard.

 

[jodifla]

Actually, in a lot of states now, like Michigan, ANY alcohol can get you arrested for DUI if the officer decides it has made you impaired.

 

[Chicago526]

The Scarlet Letter thread got me looking around on the Internet, and I notice stories of people getting convicted of DUI after having a glass of wine with dinner.

Is this hyperbole, or has it happened to you or someone you know?

And remember, some people INSIST they only have 1 drink, when they really had 6. Selective memory, or not wanting to be held accountable, you decide!

That said, I did have a single drink once, and it was a good thing I wasn't going anywhere for a few hours, because I was h a p p y about half way through it, must have been a strong one! I don't think it would have been a good idea to drive, I was felling pretty mellow, let me tell ya! Instead of getting a second drink like I'd planned, I stopped at one and stuck to Coke the rest of the night. Glad I did, if the 2nd had been as strong I'd have been on the floor!

 

[Plannergirl]

In DC one drink can get you a DUI so its not that rare. If I have ANY I dont drive at all not worth the risk to me, my job or even the hassle with the cops

 

[N.Bailey]

The alcohol limit in PA used to be .1, but it was changed to .08 and IMO, one drink can get you to .08 in some circumstances. Alcohol effects woman faster (normally) than men. Weight is a factor and if you've eaten is a definite factor too.

We have a 3 tier system here:
one punishment for those who drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 to .099%, another set of punishments for blood alcohol levels from .10 to .159%, and the harshest punishment for those who drive with blood alcohol levels of .16% or higher. Various alcohol levels have been linked to increasing levels of risk-taking or impaired behavior.

http://www.1800duilaws.com/states/pa.asp

Punishment also ranges according to how many offenses you have.

 

[DVC-Don]

Waaayyy back in my police academy days the limit was then .10. Nowadays most states are .08. During breathalizer training, I "volunteered" to be the sample. Back then I was 175 pounds and drank 1 beer every 15 minute until I had consumed 4 beers. Testing started before the first drink. I peaked out at .08 about an hour after the last of the 4 beers. They kept testing every 20 minutes until I was back at .00 which was several hours.

Several of us "volunteers" tried many things to fool the machine. Mints, coffee and one nut bit into an onion. Nothing fooled the machine. I did not try any of the evations.

I presently do not have anything alcholic when I'm going to drive. Even if I know I can pass the test, the time required to be tested can get quite long.

 

[C.Ann]

If a person has had an alcoholic drink, they don't belong behind the wheel of a car - period.. There are too many factors involved in how your body responds to "only one drink" to feel as though you have the right to go out and possibly kill an innocent victim..

I can't even phathom why anyone in their right mind would even want to take that chance.. And if they're lucky enough to not get in an accident, but are still pulled over and charged with a DUI - oh well - natural consequences.. The higher the fine and the larger the penalty, maybe that person will think twice the next time around..

 

[WIcruizer]

I notice stories of people getting convicted of DUI after having a glass of wine with dinner.

This screams of urban legend.

 

[RadioNate]

Actually, in a lot of states now, like Michigan, ANY alcohol can get you arrested for DUI if the officer decides it has made you impaired.

This happened to my DH about 10 years ago when we were unmarried and just finishing college. The officer thought he was impaired so he was arrested and taken to jail. When the breathalizer was done at the station (about 15 minutes after the initial arrest) he was below the legal limit so he was released with no charges BUT they had already impounded the car and we had about $200 in fees the next morning to get it out. We talked to a lawyer friend because then $200 was a lot of money and were told the officer was completely w/in his rights to arrest based on suspecion and that we'd have to suck it up and just 'eat' the $200.

Now we don't drive anywhere even after 1 drink.

 

[WIcruizer]

If a person has had an alcoholic drink, they don't belong behind the wheel of a car - period.. There are too many factors involved in how your body responds to "only one drink" to feel as though you have the right to go out and possibly kill an innocent victim..

I can't even phathom why anyone in their right mind would even want to take that chance.. And if they're lucky enough to not get in an accident, but are still pulled over and charged with a DUI - oh well - natural consequences.. The higher the fine and the larger the penalty, maybe that person will think twice the next time around..

I disagree. I drive all the time after having a drink, even several drinks. Studies have shown driving when stressed, upset, depressed, tired, etc. or poor weather conditions, cell phones, all kinds of things are just as hazardous if not MORE hazardous than driving with a .025 BOC.

I'll keep drinking and driving, it is perfectly safe. Or at least as safe as driving under any other set of conditions.

 

[Lewisc]

This isn't directly specifically to you but replying to your post is the easiest way to make my point--

I don't think anyone is in favor of people driving when they're impaired. I've read a number of articles that say drivers who are tired, on cell phones (even hands free), looking at navigation systems and even eating are more of a problem than a driver that has one drink. Most of the cold medications in my medicine cabinet warn against driving yet many people still drive when they take medications.

If a person has had an alcoholic drink, they don't belong behind the wheel of a car - period.. There are too many factors involved in how your body responds to "only one drink" to feel as though you have the right to go out and possibly kill an innocent victim..

I can't even phathom why anyone in their right mind would even want to take that chance.. And if they're lucky enough to not get in an accident, but are still pulled over and charged with a DUI - oh well - natural consequences.. The higher the fine and the larger the penalty, maybe that person will think twice the next time around..

 

[Serena]

I hardly drink at all so one drink does affect me. I don't drink and drive.

 

[Kae]

I had a friend who blew .08 after having 3 beers in a little over 2 1/2 hours. She is a small girl. It depends on you weight & metabolisism. And I know in Indiana they only have to calabrate the machine once a year. Most states they do that more often.

Kae

 

[mum4jenn]

You have to consider the size of the drink also. I remember on Oprah whenTracey Gold was on after crashing the car and her children bing thrown out of the car she saud she had only had 1 or 2 glasses of wine over several hours but the size of the glass was larger than one serving.

 

[POB14]

Deleted due to inability to work an online calculator.

 

[N.Bailey]

According to this calculator, she'd have to weigh about sixteen pounds for that to be true. I'm guessing somebody is under-reporting her drinking just a little bit.

I've seen this calculator before, but I'm not sure how accurate it is. 1 beer makes me feel funny, yet by this, I'd have to drink 3 beers per hour to be legally considered intoxicated. I'd bet that's not real accurate. Not according to the way I feel after 2. I certainly wouldn't consider myself able to drive safely and I would never attempt to do so UNLESS it was a life or death situation.

The calculator doesn't take other factors into consideration either. It paints us all with the same broad stroke.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

According to this calculator, she'd have to weigh about sixteen pounds for that to be true. I'm guessing somebody is under-reporting her drinking just a little bit.

Actually at 100 pounds she would be over the 0.08% limit that is the limit in most states (depending on the alcohol content of the beer).