What Is BAC?
How Will BAC Results Affect My Case?
The term BAC stands for blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol content. This refers to the percentage or concentration of alcohol in your blood stream at the time of the arrest. Typically, this is determined through scientific chemical testing, such as breath, blood, or urine tests. If you test at or above the legal limit (0.08 percent), then you will likely be charged with DUI—regardless of your level of impairment. For drivers under the legal drinking age, the threshold for their BAC is much lower—a "zero tolerance" limit of 0.01 percent.
BAC chemical testing is not the same as standardized field sobriety testing (SFST). While the former are scientific tests that can only be administered after a lawful arrest, the latter are subjective tests taken at the scene of a police stop. "Failing" a field sobriety test is dependent on the police officer's observation, while "failing" a BAC chemical test is a more accurate measure of intoxication because it is based on scientific evidence, although chemical errors are still possible.
BAC is the linchpin evidence in a majority of DUI cases. Therefore, it is essential that your DUI defense lawyer knows how to contest chemical test evidence. Gold & Witham has proven defense methods, and we have often been able to call chemical test credibility into question, resulting in dismissed evidence and dropped charges. Call us today to learn more about how BAC will affect your DUI case.
