Winter is a time for comfort food, family and a little extra indulgence – and that’s leading to a lot of driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges.
The chance to catch up with old friends and distant family members is hard to resist – and the chance to cut loose a little midweek can be even harder. That’s why dates like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving have become huge celebrations.
While you’re smart enough to make sure that you don’t get arrested for drunk driving after a night at the bars, you also need to be careful that you don’t end up with a “day after” DWI.
How is it even possible to get a DWI the day after you’ve been drinking?
It all comes down to biology and math. Most people assume that a good night’s sleep and a few glasses of water will negate the alcohol in their system by morning, but that’s not necessarily true – especially after a night of intense drinking.
The human body generally only eliminates about .02% of alcohol volume in its bloodstream every hour. Imagine, then, that you have several beers and several shots at the bar, and you go home with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .22% – which is easily done. If you sleep six hours, you’d only reduce your BAC down to .10%, which is still above the statutory limit that equates to intoxicated driving. You may think you’re merely a little hungover when you’re actually still legally drunk.
You can absolutely bet that the police will have an increased presence on the road during the entire Thanksgiving holiday, starting the Wednesday before and rolling all the way through Black Friday and the rest of the weekend. It’s something to keep in mind as you enjoy the extended celebration.
If you do make a mistake and end up facing charges (rightly or wrongly), don’t let the court system push you through to a conviction without a fight.
Subscribe To This Blog's Feed