DUI Burn Off Rate

If you’re like most adults, you’ve most likely overindulged in alcohol at some point in your life. Whether the event left you mildly intoxicated or all-out drunk, you probably know what it’s like to wait for its effects to wear off—and after a few of these experiences, you’ve undoubtedly discovered how widely this waiting period can vary. However, there’s far more to this “sobering up” period than you may realize, as the amount of time it takes for your body to process alcohol is largely based on factors that are beyond your control, like your metabolism and gender, for example. Here’s what you should know about your DUI burn off rate. 

If you are ever pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), the officer who stops you may administer a chemical test to determine the amount of alcohol in your system. By analyzing your breath, blood, or urine, these types of tests calculate the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream.

Commonly referred to as blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, your alcohol-to-blood ratio is used to determine your level of intoxication. Under federal law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher, as studies indicate this is the amount at which most individuals begin to show signs of mental and/or physical impairment.

In addition to the federal BAC limit, many states restrict the amount of alcohol underage drivers and commercial vehicle operators can have in their systems even further—usually imposing a BAC of 0.00% to 0.04%. Although DUI burn off rate varies based from one person to another, because these laws specify the amount of alcohol drivers are allowed to have in their systems, it is a crime to operate a vehicle with a BAC above these guidelines. As a result, many drivers are arrested for driving with an illegal BAC, even though their ability to operate a vehicle is not truly impaired.

On average, it takes approximately one hour for a person's body to process a single ounce of alcohol (for example, you would need about five hours to burn off five beers). Along with affecting your ability to drive, having an excessive amount of alcohol in your system can also lead to blackouts, alcohol poisoning, and even death. As a result, it is always best to keep track of the amount of alcoholic beverages you consume and, if possible, space them out accordingly.

Fortunately, because chemical tests fail to consider an individual's specific DUI burn off rate, your BAC calculation can often be challenged in criminal court. If you were recently arrested for DUI, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced defense attorney immediately. In many cases, a skilled legal representative can question the accuracy of your chemical test results and prevent them from being used against you.

To learn more about how to fight your DUI arrest, contact an attorney who specializes in drunk driving defense in your area today.

States and Cities:
AK	Alaska, Anchorage	LA	Louisiana, New Orleans	OH	Ohio, Cincinnati
AL	Alabama, Montgomery	MA	Massachusetts, Boston	OK	Oklahoma, Tulsa
AR	Arkansas, Little Rock	MD	Maryland, Baltimore	OR	Oregon, Portland
AZ	Arizona, Phoenix	ME	Maine, Portland	PA	Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
CA	California, Los Angeles	MI	Michigan, Detroit	RI	Rhode Island, Providence
CO	Colorado, Denver	MN	Minnesota, Duluth	SC	South Carolina, Charleston
CT	Connecticut, Hartford	MO	Missouri, Branson	SD	South Dakota, Sioux Falls
DE	Delaware, Wilmington	MS	Mississippi, Jackson	TN	Tennessee, Nashville
FL	Florida, Orlando	MT	Montana, Bozeman	TX	Texas, Houston
GA	Georgia, Atlanta	NC	North Carolina, Charoltte	UT	Utah, Salt Lake City
HI	Hawaii, Honolulu	ND	North Dakota, Fargo	VT	Vermont, Burlington
IA	Iowa, Des Moines	NE	Nebraska, Omaha	VA	Virginia, Richmond
ID	Idaho, Boise	NH	New Hampshire, Portsmouth	WA	Washington, Seattle
IL	Illinois, Chicago	NJ	New Jersey, Newark	WI	Wisconsin, Milwaukee
IN	Indiana, Indianapolis	NM	New Mexico, Albuquerque	WV	West Virginia, Charleston
KS	Kansas, Kansas City	NV	Nevada, Las Vegas	WY	Wyoming, Cheyenne
KY	Kentucky, Lexington	NY	New York, New York	DC	Washington DC