Common DUI Myths

Los Angeles DUI Lawyers Debunking Recurrent Fiction

Unfortunately, there is a lot of fiction and myths circulating around DUI-related crimes. There are prevalent stories that are re-told and many people buy into them without thinking twice. This can lead to unfortunate circumstances and considerable confusion. At Gold & Witham, we encourage our clients to get their answers straight from the source so that they can be confident knowing that they have a firm understanding of the law and that they have a clear idea of what they are dealing with. Some of the several misnomers about DUI that have made their way into poplar belief include:

• FICTION: Eating and / or waiting for a period of time will lower BAC.
  • This is untrue. While eating can help with combating the narcotic effects of alcohol, it actually does absolutely nothing to help with lowering BAC. The best bet that someone has at lowering their BAC is to just wait it off – and more than an hour. Studies have shown that the highest spike of a BAC occurs an hour after the last drink as the body is steadily catching up with the consumption wait. Therefore, just waiting isn't a reliable course of action to avoid a DUI. It is much better to get a sober driver to take you home.


• FICTION: Spraying breath spray can help lower BAC levels.
  • Again, this is not a true way to lower BAC. In fact, the opposite is actually true in many cases. Most breath sprays contact traces of alcohol and other active ingredients that can actually aggravate a BAC level rather than lowering it. Beyond this, most law enforcement officers will suspect something if they can tell that you've used breath spray which will heighten suspicion and create an even more complicated situation.


• FICTION: Putting pennies or metal in the mouth can trick the Breathalyzer.
  • This is a common believe and a popularly used strategy, however, it has no merit. It is completely an urban myth to think that the presence of metal will change the way that the Breathalyzer works at detecting alcohol. Beyond that, it is standardized practice for the law enforcement officer to remove everything from your mouth before administering the test.


• FICTION: Refusing to cooperate with the police will help your chances.
  • This could not be further from the truth. The best thing that you can do after being pulled over is to be cooperative and to work with law enforcement officers. Be polite and do what you can to avoid antagonism; being uncooperative will only make the situation worse and raise suspicion. By acting civilly, you are only making things easier.

Contact a Los Angeles drunk driving attorney today!

The above are just some of the common myths surrounding drunk driving – and they certainly are not all of them. If you have recently been criminally charged with a DUI, you owe it to yourself to get the involvement of an experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney who can help combat the charges. Gold & Witham encourages drivers to remember that the only 100% effective way to avoid getting a DUI charge is to never drink and drive. If, however, you have found yourself arrested, you cannot waste a moment in contacting the firm and finding out what can be done to protect your legal rights. You do not have a second to waste as the sooner that you get us involved, the faster that we will be able to help you seek your deserved resolution.

Contact a Los Angeles DUI lawyer from our firm today to learn more!