The National Transportation Safety Board Proposes Tougher Drunk Driving Threshold

The National Transportation Safety Board has proposed a significantly more severe drunk driving threshold.  Currently, the national standard for driving under the influence of alcohol is federally mandated at a 0.08 blood alcohol concentration.  With the 0.08 standard, nearly 10,000 people are killed in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes.  The NTSB has recommended that the federally mandated standard be lowered from 0.08 to 0.05 blood alcohol concentration.  With the lower threshold, an average 180 lb male would reach the 0.05 limit after two to three drinks in one hour.

Lowering the drunk driving threshold would cause significant problems for law enforcement in Rhode Island DUI cases.  Some possible problems from a lowered threshold include an increasing importance of the margin of error when interpreting breath test results.  As the blood alcohol concentration numbers get lower, the margin of error for the breath test results become increasingly important as it could mean the difference between a Rhode Island DUI conviction and a not guilty finding.  Moreover, Police training is based upon Standardized Field Sobriety Tests which have been scientifically validated to indicate impairment at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10 or higher.  How these tests are to be used and interpreted in a legal environment in which the drunk driving threshold is 0.05 is difficult to understand.  Needless to say, the assistance of a skilled Rhode Island DUI Attorney whenever you are facing a Rhode Island DUI charge.

At the Law Offices of Matthew T. Marin, Esquire, Inc. we are experienced and skilled Rhode Island DUI Attorney's.  Contact us to set up a confidential, no fee consultation today so that we can put our knowledge and experience to work for you.  We are available 24/7 at 401-228-8271, mm@matthewtmarin.com, or on our website at https://www.matthewtmarin.com/rhode-island-dui-lawyer .

For more information on particular areas of Rhode Island's DUI laws, visit the links below:

• Drunk Driving Penalties
• Breath Test Refusal Penalties
• Drunk Driving Expungement

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MATTHEW MARIN

PHONE: 401-228-8271 

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