Getting a DUI lawyer in North York is one of the best decisions you can make following your DUI conviction. The consequences of a DUI are serious and can affect your life in a number of negative ways such as:

  • Dealing with fines
  • Potentially having to serve time in prison
  • Suspension of your driver’s license

Being aware of the consequences associated with a DUI conviction will have you more aware of what to expect if you’re considering stepping into your vehicle after a heavy night of drinking. No one wants to be dealing with such severe consequences that can interrupt your quality of life, and if something like this does happen to you, you’ll want to seek out a DUI lawyer in North York as soon as you can. 

Driving Impaired – What Is It?

Throughout Ontario, if you’re driving in your vehicle and have higher than 80 mg of alcohol in every 100 ml of blood, you could be charged with a DUI. There are a number of different elements that can play a role in how much alcohol you’ll need to consume to bring you over that 80 mg number.

  • Your gender
  • How much you weigh
  • Your body type
  • Your metabolic rate

Your tolerance levels to alcohol don’t usually play a role in if you’ll blow over or not. Some people can simply drink a lot of alcohol without visibly showing it. You can still blow over on a breathalyzer test even if you look completely fine. Someone’s body type does play more of a role in comparison to their tolerance levels, but it still all depends on the combined factors. If you’re light and have one drink, you have a higher chance of blowing over in comparison to someone that is heavier. A heavier set person might be able to consume four drinks for the one that you’ve had.

On average, three drinks is typically the threshold that people measure their consumption rates by. Certain times, it’s difficult to gauge the amount you’ve drank at a social gathering. If you find yourself feeling the effects of alcohol in a situation like this, you’ll want to either call a taxi or just wait it out before you step foot in your vehicle. By doing this, you’ll have a greater chance of not having to deal with the negative effects of a potential DUI.

What Drinks Count?

Some people might think that every single drink is different, but the majority of alcohol servings per drink will still count towards being a drink. It doesn’t matter if you’re drinking wine or beer, each serving size will constitute one drink. A single glass of wine will be equivalent to a pint of beer, and a pint of beer will be equivalent to a shot of vodka. Some drinks have higher alcohol content in comparison to others, and alcohol manufacturers typically state the alcohol by its volume.

Beers will typically have an alcohol content of around 5 or 6%, but if you’re drinking a beer that has an alcohol content of 11%, then that will be comparable to two glasses of wine. 

Common Questions About Drunk Driving

There are a number of common questions that people have when they are considering driving after they’ve had a few drinks.

Can You Go To Jail For Driving Under The Influence?

If it’s your first time being convicted of a DUI, then you’ll most likely only be dealing with a fine, but if it’s your second offence, you’ll probably have to serve some time in prison.

How Long Will I Spend in Prison?

For second DUI convictions, you can expect to serve around a month in jail. if it’s your third offence, you can expect to serve up to four months in jail.

Limits For Driving Impaired – What Are They?

If you have over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of your blood, then that will be over the legal limit.

Can I Safely Drive After A Pint Of Beer?

The majority of people can safely drink a pint without blowing over the 80 mg legal limit. If you’re very light, there is still the chance that you could potentially blow over.

What Can I Expect From My First Dui Conviction?

If you’re currently trying to navigate your first DUI offence, you’ll want to get a DUI lawyer in North York.  You can typically expect to pay a fine of around $1,000. You’ll also have your driver’s license suspended for around a month.

I Was Caught Driving Impaired, What Do I Do?

If you get pulled over for driving under the influence, you can expect the police officer to bring you to the police station to go through a breathalyzer test. If you test over the legal limit of 80 mg, then you will be charged.

What Are Some Myths Surrounding Drunk Driving?

Myth: I can still drive safely after a couple of drinks.

Fact: Nearly 1 in 5 people are under 80 mg of alcohol in their blood when they crash.

Myth: There aren’t a ton of car accidents from impaired drivers.

Fact: Alcohol plays a large part in accidents, and they play a part in nearly 1 in 3 accidents on the road.

Myth: Breathalyzer tests aren’t accurate.

Fact: Breathalyzer tests are nearly 99% accurate if they are used by a professional technician.

Myth: You can trick breathalyzer tests by certain methods.

Fact: A breathalyzer test can’t be fooled by little gimmicks like chewing gum or other means. They test the level of alcohol in your blood.

Myth: If you have a high tolerance to alcohol, you have a higher chance of passing a breathalyzer test.

Fact: Someone that develops a tolerance to alcohol might be able to appear sober in comparison to someone that doesn’t have a high tolerance level, but if they have higher than 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, they will still blow over.

What Can I Expect After I’ve Been Pulled Over for Driving Under The Influence?

Being pulled over under suspicion of drunk driving can be very frustrating and can lead to a lot of anxiety. If this happens to you, you’ll want to write down everything that occurs every step of the way. This will help you understand what’s going on and it can also be good information for you to bring up with your DUI lawyer in North York. The report that you write down might be very different from what the police officer has written down. If the police officer had made an error, your lawyer might be able to highlight that.

Getting a DUI lawyer in North York will help you navigate what to do next. You were pulled over for driving under the influence, but you don’t have to go through the next steps alone. When looking around for a lawyer, you’ll want to make sure that they are professional and have a solid reputation in the field of DUI law. Jonathan Lapid has a solid track record of helping DUI avoid things like:

  • A criminal record
  • Staying out of prison
  • Retaining their driver’s license
  • Avoiding increases to their insurance rates