Professionals in high-stress careers might enjoy stopping for a few drinks during happy hour on their drive home. They might meet up with friends or co-workers to commiserate after a long day or celebrate finishing a major project.
Overindulging while celebrating or bemoaning career circumstances is a relatively common occurrence. Even those who avoid driving home from a car or social gathering after drinking too much could still be at risk of a driving under the influence DUI charge. If they get pulled over on their way to work the next day, they might still be at risk of failing a chemical test.
The body has finite metabolic capabilities
Most people wake up feeling sober the day after they drink too much. They may have a headache or other telltale symptoms of a hangover, but they no longer feel as impaired as they did the night before. However, the chemical state of their body could be very different than what they expect.
Most people can only metabolize roughly one drink’s worth of alcohol per hour. If someone stayed up until 2:00 in the morning drinking and then woke up at 6:00 to be back at work by 9:00, they could still potentially be over the legal limit during their morning commute to work.
The ability to drive safely with an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) does not protect a motorist from criminal prosecution. Anyone who fails a test by having a BAC over the limit that applies to them, which is typically 0.08% for adults operating their own vehicles, is vulnerable to a DUI charge.
Professionals facing drunk driving accusations that could disrupt their careers and damage their reputations may need assistance evaluating the state’s case and responding effectively. Exploring the circumstances that led to a morning-after DUI charge with a skilled legal team can help accused individuals to avoid convictions when possible.
