National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Recommends Lowering BAC Limit to .05

A report issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine issued in 2018 recommends that states lower instituting a .05 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit. Currently, most states, including Pennsylvania, have a BAC limit of .08. If adopted, the recommendation has the potential to criminalize driving after consuming an amount of alcohol that most of us consider moderate.

In fact, studies indicate that a 140-pound woman who consumes just 2 drinks in an hour can easily have a BAC of over .05, meaning that many people who enjoy a glass of wine or two with dinner and then drive home could easily be putting themselves at risk of a DUI arrest. The proposal as far from law, however, and many organizations have expressed their opposition to lowering the legal BAC limit, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Beverage Association, and the Distilled Spirits Council.

A DUI Can Mean a Lifetime of Consequences

Manu people who are arrested for a low-BAC DUI are shocked about the severity of the consequences they are facing. Whether your BAC is .08 or 4 times the legal limit, will likely be arrested, put into the back of a police car, and taken to jail. If you are ultimately adjudicated guilty of violating South Carolina’s DUI statute, you will be facing a plethora of consequences, including the following:

• Significant fines
• The loss of your driver’s license
• Community service
• Increased insurance rates and mandated high-risk insurance policies
• Drug and alcohol education classes
• Jail time

In addition, the existence of a DUI conviction on your criminal record can make it extremely difficult to get a job, as it can cause potential employers to suspect that you may have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Similarly, a DUI conviction can cause issues when trying to obtain a professional license, gain admission to a college or university, or even rent an apartment.

If you are facing a DUI charge, it is important to keep in mind that an arrest does not always lead to a conviction, and there are often many defenses that a lawyer can raise to exclude or cast doubt upon the accuracy of evidence. Even if there are no legal defenses available in your case, a lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea bargain arrangement that allows you to avoid the most serious consequences associated with a DUI or even a conviction at all.

Call a West Chester DUI Defense Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Legal Options

If you have been accused of drunk driving in the West Chester area, you should speak to an attorney as soon as you can. At Skinner Law, we are committed to representing the rights of individuals accused of impaired driving and work hard to resolve every case we take as favorably as possible. To schedule a free case evaluation with a DUI lawyer in West Chester, PA, call our office today at 610-436-1410 or contact us online.