My experience is similar for sure. I have a breathalyzer, its a BACtrack one, quite nice, is DOT certified so I have no doubts its accurate (and has been very consistently accurate. I even sent it back to BAC to be recalibrated when I noted it wasn't functioning and I got sent a new one).
My observations? And keep in mind I am a reasonable consumer of alcohol, I brew and keg beer, so its convenient haha. 0.05 I am displaying the effects of being intoxicated, I well know I should not drive, its quite clear. at 0.08 I am walk into doorways drunk. 0.08 is straight up hammered.
Impaired and 0.08 are two different charges in the criminal code. All the police need is reasonable grounds to believe your ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired by drug or alcohol to charge you. In most cases they won't even get a road side sample as it just hampers their case for your impairment. "If you were certain he was impaired, why did you need a roadside sample?"
The breath demand is what you will be read when it's time to go downtown and an actual breath tech has to take that sample. Within four hours of time of drive to get the certificate they can use as evidence in court, however an expert can come in to extrapolate the sample if you pass that window.
This impairment will always be different for different people, so don't get hung up on the BAC.
Also the penalty for refusal is the same as impaired or 0.08 so never refuse. Refusal can include pretending to blow, or purposely blowing out the side of your mouth etc.. as well.
Honestly if you drink, just don't drive it's that simple. You are the worst person to try and assess your own level of impairment and your buddies are not trained professionals and are most likely drinking with you. If you need any motivation for that read this article:
I don't think it takes much to hit .05.... these are the rules:
What are the administrative penalties for drivers with a BAC of .05 to .08?
Previously, drivers caught with a blood alcohol concentration of .05 or greater were subject to a 24-hour suspension. Under Alberta#s new rules, these drivers get:
A roadside sanction of a 3 day licence suspension and 3 day vehicle seizure for the first offence
A roadside sanction of a 15 day suspension and 7 day vehicle seizure for the second offence plus a mandatory remedial course and may be referred to the Alberta Transportation Safety Board by the Registrar
A roadside sanction of a 30 day suspension and 7 day vehicle seizure for third and subsequent offences plus a mandatory review by the Alberta Transportation Safety Board and a remedial course
Everyone needs to read it and then read it again. And then realize that if you drink ANY alcohol you simply don't drive. No exceptions no excuses.
That's a bit dramatic. I think most reasonable people can consume 1-2 drinks and be just fine. If that is your personal policy, feel free to act accordingly. But I wouldn't go around preaching it to others.
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That's a bit dramatic. I think most reasonable people can consume 1-2 drinks and be just fine. If that is your personal policy, feel free to act accordingly. But I wouldn't go around preaching it to others.
If I don't do it, then nobody can!
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That's a bit dramatic. I think most reasonable people can consume 1-2 drinks and be just fine. If that is your personal policy, feel free to act accordingly. But I wouldn't go around preaching it to others.
Why not? The world would be a better place for it.
Why would the world be a better place if people who had 2 drinks and then drive had zero drinks and then drove?
Because if society as a whole had this strategy, the jerks who have way too much to drink would also be off the road and I’m willing to sacrifice my drinking for safer roads.
Because if society as a whole had this strategy, the jerks who have way too much to drink would also be off the road and I’m willing to sacrifice my drinking for safer roads.
Because if society as a whole had this strategy, the jerks who have way too much to drink would also be off the road and I’m willing to sacrifice my drinking for safer roads.
It’s a little naive to think that. You could make it zero tolerance by law and the jerks would still drive.
That's a bit dramatic. I think most reasonable people can consume 1-2 drinks and be just fine. If that is your personal policy, feel free to act accordingly. But I wouldn't go around preaching it to others.
You can be charged with impaired driving even if you only have 1 drink.
You can be charged with impaired driving even if you only have 1 drink.
Only if that one drink made me impaired, but I fit into a large group of people that this does not apply to, so why should I follow a blanket non tolerance rule imposed by moralists and not the law?
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I believe in zero tolerance. If I am driving, I don’t drink any alcohol. I wish more people would take this approach.
I went out Saturday night with some friends to play pool/darts/shuffleboard.
I had 3 - 4 small glasses of draught in a 4 hour time frame, with a few glasses of water. You're saying I should have spent $60 on a cab instead of driving home?
I went out Saturday night with some friends to play pool/darts/shuffleboard.
I had 3 - 4 small glasses of draught in a 4 hour time frame, with a few glasses of water. You're saying I should have spent $60 on a cab instead of driving home?
DuffMan knows how to Parteee!
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I went out Saturday night with some friends to play pool/darts/shuffleboard.
I had 3 - 4 small glasses of draught in a 4 hour time frame, with a few glasses of water. You're saying I should have spent $60 on a cab instead of driving home?
yes or dont drink.
is your love of wine so great that you wouldnt sacrifice it so we could get the guys who drink a bottle of JD off the road too?
personal choice clearly, if i was one of your friends I would attend and be your designated driver and not drink at all without a second thought.
I think that's far to huge of a nanny state, that probably won't even accomplish what you want.
If someone drinks responsibly, why shouldn't they be able to responsibly drive their car home? Because some other idiot might not?
I'm huge on not drinking and driving (see my posts about Nenshi and Uber) but I see why drinking responsibly and driving home unimpaired have to be mutual exclusive events. In fact, they aren't.
is your love of wine so great that you wouldnt sacrifice it so we could get the guys who drink a bottle of JD off the road too?
personal choice clearly, if i was one of your friends I would attend and be your designated driver and not drink at all without a second thought.
Someone who (under the current rules) drives after drinking a bottle of JD will not be not change their habits if the law is .08, .05 or zero tolerance.
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