Driving after consuming alcohol
The majority of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving after imbibing (DAI) arrests occur after a person had been at a bar, restaurant or private party and has consumed alcohol.
There is no hard and fast rule as to how many drinks one can have, and over what period of time, before becoming intoxicated. Under Pennsylvania law, the legal limit of blood alcohol content (BAC) to be intoxicated is .08 percent.
There are formulas published that may be used as guidelines to determine how many drinks a person of a specific height, weight and gender might be able to drink before becoming intoxicated.
Keep in mind, however, that these are rough estimates and alcohol impacts different people in different ways. The only way to operate a motor vehicle safely in these situations is by not drinking prior to driving!
Driving After Ingesting Drugs
A person may also place him or herself in danger of a DUI/DAI arrest if he or she has ingested drugs, illegal or legal, prior to driving. When drugs are in a driver’s bloodstream a crucial distinction must be understood:
If you have ANY illegal drugs in your bloodstream, no matter when they were ingested, it is against the law to operate a motor vehicle.
When legally prescribed drugs are involved you may not operate a motor vehicle if you have ingested them in such doses as to render yourself impaired to the point where you are not able to operate a motor vehicle safely.
If you are facing a charge, for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is critical that you seek the advice of an experienced Pennsylvania DUI defense lawyer who knows the law and knows how to protect your rights.