You go out with some colleagues for happy hour on a Friday night, have a couple drinks and then switch to soda for the rest of the night. Waiting to drive home may seem like a responsible choice, and yet you could still face the risk of DUI charges if you get behind the wheel. How exactly could this end up happening?
Risk #1: There could still be alcohol in your system, even hours later
You may have stopped drinking long before you left the bar, and you may no longer feel buzzed at all. Even if you feel like you are okay to drive, that does not mean you are sober yet. That is the primary risk.
You may be well aware that the impact alcohol has on you in a given situation depends on many factors, such as:
- Your physical condition, like age or body weight
- Temporary circumstances, like how much food was in your stomach before drinking
- The type of alcohol or number of drinks you consumed
These factors can also determine how long it could take alcohol to fully exit your system. And it could be quite some time before alcohol is no longer detectable in your blood or even on your breath.
Risk #2: You could be pulled over for a completely different violation
The weekend usually brings extra Colorado police officers patrolling the road, and they keep an eye out for more than just drunk driving. Speeding or even driving with a broken tail light could be cause for police to conduct a traffic stop.
The risk arises if the officer who pulled you over smells alcohol or notices any other signs of intoxication. Then a routine stop to issue a ticket could quickly turn into a DUI stop. And as Risk #1 shows, even being pulled over hours after your last drink could still put you at risk of facing:
- DUI charges if your BAC is 0.08% or higher
- Or even driving while ability impaired (DWAI) charges if your BAC is between 0.05% and 0.08%
Remember: It does not matter what kind of traffic stop it is, you have the right to remain silent. You may have to provide certain information, such as your name and license details, but you do not have to answer questions, such as, “Where are you coming from tonight?” and “Have you been drinking?”
Waiting to sober up before getting behind the wheel may be the responsible approach – but only waiting a few hours may not be long enough for alcohol to leave your system. The risk of facing DUI charges is still high in a situation like this. Whether or not a case involves a lower BAC, these charges should not be taken lightly. Colorado drivers must act quickly to defend their rights and keep a mistake from harming their future.