For the average driver in Oklahoma, there’s a blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.08%. Most drivers could have a single drink without exceeding this limit, but they may get close to it as they have two or three drinks. Exceeding it is problematic because it leads to the presumption of impairment, so it can be evidence in a drunk driving case.
However, it is important to know that Oklahoma does have zero tolerance laws. This means that there is no tolerance for alcohol consumption by underage drivers. If someone is under 21 and a breath test reveals that they do have alcohol in their system, then they could face drunk driving charges—even if they are well below the 0.08% threshold.
Why is this done?
The general principle behind these laws is that underage individuals are not supposed to drink in the first place. Doing so is breaking the law, and driving the car afterward compounds the issue. Young drivers already lack experience and have some of the highest fatal car accident rates in the country, so alcohol use is strictly prohibited.
It can make a big difference
The lower limit can have a huge impact on whether or not someone faces charges, especially because they don’t need to consume much alcohol at all. Someone who drinks half of a beer likely will not feel like they are impaired or intoxicated. If they were 30 years old, they may have a blood alcohol concentration of just 0.02%. But for a teen driver, that exact same scenario could lead to serious DUI charges.
These charges can alter the course of a young person‘s life, so it’s important for them and their parents to understand all of the legal defense options at their disposal.