How Many Drinks Will Get You A DUI? (Chart)

Do you know how many drinks you can have before you're in danger of getting a drunken driving violation? 

This year in Shelby Township, there have been several notable car accidents caused by drunken driving (see below), and several other people pulled over while driving drunk. As we cruise through New Year's Eve, Patch wants you to know when enough is enough.

When police pull drivers over for suspected drunken driving, officers ask them to perform field sobriety tests and to take a breath test to measure Blood Alcohol Content.

A BAC test measures the percentage of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream. Michigan's legal limit is 0.08.

According to the Virginia Tech Alcohol Abuse Prevention website, every 40 minutes, 0.01 percent of alcohol leaves your system. 

The limit for people under 21 is 0.02. Is it concievable for someone to blow a 0.01 and still be charged?

Yes. Law enforecement officers say any alcohol you consume will get you charged with underaged drinking if you're under age. It's a zero-tolerance policy. Even if we smell beer, you can be charged with underage drinking.

So what's the difference between being charged with a DUI/OUI or underage drinking?

With an OUI, officers have to show that someone's ability is impaired. With underage drinking, you have to prove someone has been drinking. You can be charged with both.

In 2010, Michigan created the "super drunk" catergory. First time offenders who test at 0.17 or above, and drivers with a prior conviction within seven years face enhanced penalties.

The designation confers no special powers, just super-high penalties and super-stiff fees.

Check out the chart in the media portion of this article to see what your limit is.

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