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Driving Under the Influence in Las Vegas |
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Monday, 15 October 2007 |
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How Will an Officer Determine if You are Driving Under the Influence in Las Vegas? Driving under the influence is both dangerous and foolhardy, due to alcohol’s negative effects on the body. The legal system is well aware of the possible consequences associated with driving after having consumed alcohol, and as such is very hard on those who chose to do so. As Las Vegas is one of the greatest tourist attractions in the United States it stands to logic that it would have some of the greatest consequences for those who choose to violate its laws. Chances are good that if you are stopped due to an officer suspecting you of driving under the influence you have either been driving in an erratic manner or have found yourself in the middle of a police roadblock.
The officer will ask you some questions regarding your activities and alcohol consumption that evening and ask to see your license and registration. You will probably then be asked to perform a series of sobriety tests, such as walking a straight line or reciting the alphabet backwards (a word of caution: informing the officer that these are tasks you cannot do while sober will not help your case any!) If the officer then feels that it is necessary you will be asked to perform either a breathalyzer or blood test. A breathalyzer is a device that allows the officer to determine the alcohol content of a person’s breath, then use that figure to determine the concentration that is found in the suspect’s blood (the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath after drinking is approximately 1/2300 of the concentration in the blood). Results of a breathalyzer are immediate, and the officer will then be able to determine if the suspect will be allowed to go free or if they will be subject to a license revocation. A BAC (blood alcohol concentration) that is determined directly from the blood will require the suspect to submit a sample of venous blood that will be drawn by a phlebotomist in the presence of an officer. Blood tests will be performed at the police station or in another medical facility in the presence of an officer of the court, and determination on license suspension will be withheld until these results are back. It is necessary that the prosecutor determine precisely what your blood alcohol content was at the time you were actually operating a vehicle. If after completing these procedures you are found to have had a blood alcohol level of greater than .08% the Nevada DMV will suspend your license, and further steps will be taken. |
