Project TRAC FAQ's |
| Five most frequently asked questions about alcohol-impaired driving: |
| Q1) What is "driving under the influence?" |
| A1) Driving Under the Influence starts when the driving becomes impaired. It is illegal to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of .08% or more (.01% or more if you are under 21 years old). |
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| Q2) So, how much is safe to drink and still drive? |
| A2) According to the California CHP and DMV, there is no safe way to drive while under the influence. Even one drink can make you an unsafe driver. Other factors that affect when a driver becomes impaired include: drinking on an empty stomach, fatigue, emotionally upset, and the age of the driver. |
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| Q3) What is the difference between "one drink" beer, wine and "hard" liquor? |
| A3) "One drink" is a 4-ounce glass of wine, 10 ounces of 5.7% beer or 1 ¼-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor (even if it’s mixed with non-alcoholic drinks). |
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| Q4) What is "Zero Tolerance"? |
| A4) Effective January 1994 California Law (SB689) provides for "Zero Tolerance for Underage Drinking and Driving." Under that law, youth under the age of 21 who consume even the slightest amount of alcohol and then drive a motor vehicle stand to loose their license for one year. |
| The law allows police officers to require a breath test (using a portable breathalyzer) from a driver under 21 years old, if the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has been drinking. If the driver refuses the test or the test reveals any trace of alcohol, then the police officer can confiscate the driver’s license on the spot. The DMV will suspend the person’s driving privilege for one year.. |
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| Q5) Why does that law pick on youths? |
A5) The law is particularly hard on
youths for several reasons:
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| For more information about Project TRAC call: |
619 · 285 · 6429 |