According to the San Antonio DMV, the limit blood alcohol concentration (BAC – which represents the amount of alcohol in a driver’s bloodstream measured through a chemical test, a blood or urine test or even a breath test) is 0.08% when you’re driving. You need to know that this percentage only applies to drivers over 21 years. San Antonio city laws don’t accept any alcohol percentages for drivers under 2. If there are any detectable alcohol amounts, this fact is considered a crime. Still, most alcohol-related violations occur at drivers with ages within the 21 and 34 year range.
What are the DUI and the DWI factors? DUI stands for ‘driving under influence’ while DWI is for ‘driving while intoxicated’. One person can be accused of DUI if it has been found under the influence of alcohol or even drugs.
An intoxicated driver may be arrested if charged with DWI. However, even if you’re the driver or you’re just a passenger of the car, you can end up with a $500 fine for having an unsealed alcohol container in the vehicle.
What you should also know is that in San Antonio, a person can still be arrested for driving under the influence even if their blood alcohol concentration is below the legal level of 0.08%. The arrest might occur in case the driver displays signs that are consistent with a person who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
If a police officer suspects a driver of being under alcohol or drugs influence, he is allowed to request the driver to perform the test (required by the Texas Administrative License Revocation Program) in order to detect the blood alcohol level. If the driver refuses to submit this test, he will be informed of the related penalties. If the driver still refuses or fails the chemical test, he’s driver’s license will be confiscated and suspended by the police officer with a “Notice of Suspension”. The driver will only have fifteen days from the date of the arrest to request an administrative hearing with the State Office of Administrative Hearings. If no hearing request was performed within the given 15 days, the license suspension cannot be challenged anymore.
What you can do in order to avoid any penalties or even a possible arrest is to not drive after having consumed alcohol. However, if you attended a party and you already took some alcohol, you can designate a driver in order to get home legally and safe or call a cab,. if there is such a possibility within your location. If not, respect yourself and others and try to spend the night where you are if possible. This decision can save your life and of others (drivers and passengers).
With all these DUI and DWI laws in mind, make sure to legally drive and to not exceed the accepted alcohol amount. You can always obtain more information by contacting the San Antonio DMV department. You can also enter your zip code here to find more information on this topic.
