What are per se laws?

Posted on July 26, 2015 in Blood Alcohol Tests

In Arizona, most drivers know that being stopped on suspicion of driving drunk can be bad news. Not only can the investigation take up a portion of your day, if you are found to be drunk, it could have a dramatic impact on your life as a whole. Conviction could result in hefty fines or even a prison sentence. Meanwhile, you could also lose your driver’s license or face suspension from your job.

There are many ways officers will attempt to determine whether you are intoxicated, such as field sobriety and breath tests. A blood draw might also be used to determine your blood alcohol concentration, particularly if you declined to participate in a breath test. However, it is the BAC tests that are particularly important, thanks to per se laws.

Under these laws, if your BAC is shown to be equal to or in excess of 0.08 percent, then it may be the case that no other evidence is needed to incriminate you. This is because a BAC that high means that you are intoxicated in the eyes of the law. Per se laws exist throughout the United States, including Arizona, so they are extremely important to bear in mind.

If you have been charged with drunk driving, you may be worried about the future. Building your defense can be confusing and exhausting, yet it is important to get it right. Fortunately, it is not something you need to handle alone as an attorney may be able to provide invaluable support and guidance. With the right help, you may be able to avoid conviction altogether, or at least work toward securing a lighter sentence.