If you are trying to avoid DWI charges in Arkansas, it is important to be aware of the legal limit. As most people are taught in driver’s training, this limit is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent. If the police pull you over and give you a breath test, they are typically checking to see if you have exceeded this legal limit so that the court can presume that you were impaired.
But does this legal limit apply to everyone in the same fashion? It does not. This is the limit for most drivers, but there are some exceptions where the limit can actually be lower.
Commercial drivers
To begin with, commercial drivers have had their legal limit cut in half from the overall standard, setting it at just 0.04 percent. This can make it easier for a semi-truck driver to get a DWI, for example. These charges can also be very serious for people who work as professional drivers because they may lose their license. This is not just an inconvenience, but may mean that they can no longer work at all, and so the charge could cost them their entire career.
Underage drivers
The second exception is for drivers who are under 21 years old. They have a legal limit of just 0.02 percent. It is very important for teen drivers to keep this in mind because they do not necessarily need to consume an entire drink to register at 0.02 percent during a breath test. Even consuming a small amount of alcohol, which is illegal at this age, could lead to serious charges if they then get behind the wheel.
Those who are facing DWI charges in Arkansas must be well aware of the legal defense options at their disposal.