When you went through driver’s training, they likely told you that the legal limit in Georgia is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. It is true that you can get arrested on impaired driving charges even if you’re under this limit. But the limit is important because a failed breath test can be used to presume that a driver is impaired.
One important thing for new drivers to understand is that there’s a different limit for those who are under 21 years old. This is called a no-tolerance law, and it exists in Georgia and in many other states. For an underage driver, the legal limit is 0.02%.
Why is the law written this way?
The reason that the law is set up this way is because someone in the United States isn’t allowed to purchase or consume alcohol until they turn 21. All drivers under this age should be entirely sober at all times. Therefore, even a relatively low reading still indicates the presence of alcohol and could be enough for an arrest.
How much does it take to get to 0.02%?
Another crucial piece of information for young drivers to remember is that it may take less than one drink to get their BAC up to 0.02%. Many drivers will think that it is safe to drive after having one beer or one glass of wine. But an underage driver could have half a drink and still fail the breath test because it will demonstrate the presence of alcohol in their system.
If this does lead to an arrest, young drivers must be aware of all of their criminal defense options.