A driver on the roads of any state in the country could be arrested if his or her blood alcohol content is above 0.08 percent. According to the State of New Jersey’s Department of Law & Public Safety, any amount of alcohol could lead to a drunk driving conviction in the state if it results in erratic driving, traffic violations or other signs of intoxication.
Recovery Worldwide explains that there is good reason for law enforcement to hold people accountable for impaired behaviors after even just one drink. Although many factors contribute to how fast a person’s liver metabolizes alcohol, no one is completely immune to the effects, and these may be noticeable in the following ways:
0.02 percent BAC: A person begins showing a lack of judgment after the one drink or so that it takes the average male to reach this BAC. Body temperature goes up, muscles relax, moods become unstable and visual ability decreases. Although multi-tasking behind the wheel is never a good idea, when someone has this much alcohol in his or her system, it becomes impossible.
0.05 percent BAC: After two or three drinks, a driver may not be able to stop fast enough to keep from hitting a vehicle, person or object in the road, even if he or she registers the need to slam on the brakes in time, which is unlikely. At this point, coordination and control of movements are difficult, at best.
0.08 percent BAC: All of the drastic changes already mentioned become even more exaggerated with another drink or two, and the risk of a traffic accident at this point is high.
