Drunk Driving

11 Pages 2716 Words

person consumes more alcohol that his or her body can immediately eliminate, alcohol accumulates in the bloodstream and the BAC rises. In Connecticut the BAC level is .08, means that the blood alcohol level needed to be arrested for drunken driving has to be .08 or higher. “One can also be convicted of drunk driving without the results of a blood alcohol test or if your blood alcohol test result is lower then the statutory amount. A conviction can be based on evidence that your breath, conduct, language, and movement showed that you were and unable to drive safely. ” Alcohol’s effects are progressively more noticeable as the blood alcohol concentration increases. At a BAC of .02 to .05 percent the effects are almost entirely pleasurable. The drinker feels relaxed and sociable. There may also be some modest impairment of reasoning or memory and general reduction in caution. A BAC of .05 to .07 produces a state of excitement. The drinker begins to suffer from what may be a slight but nonetheless noticeable impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction, and hearing. Judgment and self-control are also effected. The driver’s behavior is apt to become more aggressive. In general, the driver feels stimulated and highly capable. In reality his or her ability to safely perform tasks such as driving that require reactions, concentration, and good judgment has been significantly reduced. A drinker’s ability to function deteriorates quickly at BACs of .08 to .15 percent; the drinker enters a state of confusion. At this stage, the level of impairment becomes obvious, if it is has not already. Speech becomes slurred; the drinker’s sense of balance, vision, reaction time, and reasoning ability are distinctly and obviously impaired. With a BAC high, the drinker cannot safely perform tasks that require sound judgment or motor coordination. No one at this level of intoxication should ever operate a motor vehicle. The difficulty of course is...