Idaho Blood Alcohol Limit

Like all states, Idaho has specific laws regarding alcohol consumption and driving. These driving under the influence (DUI) laws depend on whether you’re visibly impaired and your blood alcohol limit. If a driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) level is higher than the specific thresholds, steep penalties will apply, such as jail time and a license suspension. 

Idaho laws can be tricky for the average individual to interpret, which only adds to feelings of stress and overwhelmedness when a driver has been charged with a DUI. Those feelings make overcoming these charges difficult.

At Trilogy Law Group, our experienced lawyers are here to simplify the details you need to know and build a strong case to support you in court. Our personalized approach and history of successful strategies enable our clients to feel comfortable and confident through the litigation process.

What is Blood Alcohol Content?

Blood alcohol limits are based on an individual’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Your BAC is the percent of alcohol within your bloodstream at a given time. This number fluctuates based on your age, height, and size, how recently you’ve been drinking, and whether you paired your alcohol with food. 

Your BAC level can be calculated using a standard blood test, where a portion of your blood is analyzed to find the percent of alcohol within it. Another option officers use to test BAC is a Breathalyzer machine, which analyzes the composition of your breath to interpret the percentage of alcohol within your system. 

A blood sample is more accurate than a Breathalyzer, and the results of a Breathalyzer may fluctuate depending on the machine’s age and whether it is being used properly. One argument a lawyer may make to get the charge dismissed is that the Breathalyzer results were inaccurate and your BAC was inflated due to an error.

What is Idaho’s Blood Alcohol Limit?

Idaho laws offer a variety of blood alcohol limits, each tied to a specific circumstance. For drivers under 21, the maximum BAC is 0.02 percent. Anything over that limit is penalized. For drivers over 21 driving personal vehicles, the threshold is 0.08. Drivers with a commercial vehicle must maintain a BAC of less than 0.04.  

Idaho laws detail additional consequences for excessive BAC levels. Individuals with a BAC of 0.20 or over may be subject to harsher enhanced penalties like lengthier jail sentences. In complex cases like this, it becomes even more critical to partner with an experienced attorney early in the litigation process so you have the best chance of beating your charge.

Talk to an Idaho DUI Attorney

If you have questions about Idaho’s blood alcohol limit or about a DUI charge you’re facing, we’re here to help. At Trilogy Law Group, we have thorough experience navigating Idaho DUI laws and helping clients avoid the steep punishments they’re facing. 

Ready to speak with a lawyer? Call us at 208-968-9060 or fill in our online form below for a consultation about your claim.