Updated on February 3rd, 2021 at 10:49 pm

It might be time to bust out the O’Doul’s®! The National Highway Safety Board (NHSB) has proposed lowering the Federal legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) to .05 from the current legal limit of .08.  Changes have been made to alcohol and impaired driving laws over the past 20 years by lowering the legal BAC threshold and upping the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.  The proposal to lower the legal BAC while driving hopes to reduce impaired driving accidents, injuries, and fatalities.

Wisconsin OWI Blood Alcohol Consumption

Men and women consuming the same amount of alcohol will have very different BAC levels due to weight and other factors.  Generally speaking, the proposed BAC limit of .05 will limit the average woman to one drink and the average man to two drinks in one hour.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) charts the effects a person will experience at certain BAC levels.  Accordingly, a BAC of .05 shows “reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, and reduced response to emergency driving situations.”

Setting the Limit for Wisconsin OWI

Lowering the legal BAC is just a proposal at this time.  Some states and organizations may object to this proposal.  In fact, many states resisted lowering BAC limits to .08 from .10 in the past.  How will NHSB ensure states adopt the new lower legal BAC?  Through “incentive grants;” money is used for highway maintenance and reconstruction for the state, just like in the past.

Reducing Wisconsin Intoxicated Driving Charges

Although the actual technology is years away, the NHSB has asked the auto industry and NHTSA to develop technology for all vehicles to be able to detect elevated BAC in drivers.  This technology would actually keep the vehicle from starting if the driver has elevated BAC.  According to NHSB, about one-half of intoxicated drivers “escape detection by officers” such as simple devices that are camouflaged as cell phones or flashlights.  Some law enforcement agencies have devices which alert officers of “intoxication,” even if the officer does not have reason to believe the driver is intoxicated

Wisconsin OWI Defense Attorney Nathan J. Dineen

Wisconsin OWI Laws are constantly changing for alcohol and drug related driving.  Wisconsin OWI Defense Attorney Nathan Dineen practices 100% OWI Defense in Wisconsin.  He attends seminars across the country focused on drunk driving defense.  Attorney Dineen is a Certified Field Sobriety Test Instructor and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE).  He will provide a strong and aggressive defense for your Wisconsin OWI.  Contact Wisconsin OWI Defense Attorney Nathan Dineen at 877-384-6800 for a Free Case Review.

Nathan J. Dineen