The lowest BAC or Blood Alcohol Level for a Colorado DUI – Driving Under the Influence – is .08. This means that your license can be suspended and you face possible jail for only having a couple of mixed drinks. Blood alcohol levels are a tricky thing, and that is why what you eat, when you eat, how much you weigh and how fast you metabolize alcohol all come into play. We suggest you play it safe and never drive if you have even one drink. Generally, after consuming just one drink, we do a poor job figuring out whether we can safely drive. In most cases, we figure we can have just one more, and then we think one more is ok, and so on.
What is the Least BAC level or Blood Alcohol Level for Driving While Ability Impaired, in Weld County, Colorado?
The least BAC or Blood Alcohol Level for Driving While Ability Impaired, in Weld County, is .051. If you stay at .05 BAC or less, you won’t likely be charged for a Driving While Ability Impaired. But, remember, this .05 or less BAC number is only a presumption, which means you could still be charged with a DWAI if there are other indicators of drunkenness. It’s always best to get a ride to the bar, so you aren’t tempted to drive home, thinking you’re ok. Did you know that in Greeley the police sometimes park outside bars and wait for people to leave? They then follow cars who exit the bar and see if they can spot a traffic violation to use as a reason to pull them over.
What is the Highest Legal BAC Level or Blood Alcohol Level for Driving Legally in Colorado?
A good question to consider is the highest BAC or Blood Alcohol Level for driving legally in Colorado. And, that amount is .050. Yet police need to make an arrest to get you to the Greeley Police Station, a hospital or the Weld County Sheriff’s Jail, to test your BAC. So, if you commit any traffic offense and admit to drinking or being at a bar, they’ll arrest you. Then, they’ll have you in a situation where you must do the test or lose your driver’s license (for a refusal). And since most of us won’t drink just one drink, we can quickly get charged with a Driving While Ability Impaired – and be out thousands of dollars. Stop funding the court system – don’t drive if you drink at all. It is not worth the gamble.
What are the Blood Alcohol Levels for DUI and DWAI, in Colorado?
A blood alcohol level of .050 or less is generally safe to drive (though you’ll still get arrested so police can test your BAC).
A blood alcohol level of .051 to .079 will result in your arrest and charge for Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol.
If your blood alcohol level is more than .08 or greater, you will be arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
DUI Blood Alcohol Information from the Colorado Department of Transportation
Here is some good information from CDOT’s Drinking and Driving Site which is straightforward and accurate:
- Even after only one or two drinks, some people may be close to or exceed Colorado’s DUI and DWAI limits.
- 05 Percent BAC for DWAI (Driving While Ability Impaired)
- 08 Percent BAC for DUI (Driving Under the Influence)
- Even if your BAC is less than 0.05 percent, you can still be arrested for a DUI if an officer notices signs of impairment. The only absolute way to ensure you are safe to drive is to have a BAC of zero.
- When considering fines, legal fees and increased insurance costs, a DUI can add up to more than $13,500.
BAC Factors
- When calculating your BAC, you may find your level of impairment increases or decreases based on these factors:
- Number of standard drinks
- How quickly you drink
- Gender
- Body weight
- How much food you’ve eaten
- Body type
- Fatigue
- Hydration