My friend says her alcohol content was 0.4. Is that possible?

Question

She was pulled over and taken to jail and she says she blew 0.4 That seems kinda extreme doesn't it?

Answer 1

It's not entirely unheard of for one to have a BAC of 0.40% and still be functioning. Generally such a person would have a genetic tolerance for alcohol -- e.g. Scottish or Irish ancestry -- and would likely weigh upwards of 300 lbs.

In your friend's case, it is much more likely (if she's telling the truth) that she could have tested at an 0.40% BAC on a breathalyzer without actually having had such a high alcohol content. The only reliable BAC test would be a laboratory test on a blood sample; breath-based alcohol test suffer from several major deficiencies:

1) Since they measure alcohol content in the air, if someone has alcohol in their mouth or throat the reading can be several times the actual level of alcohol in their system.

2) Since the technology has to be portable, the components used are relatively simple and will identify several molecules similar to alcohol.

3) U.S. law does not permit independent audits of breathalyzers to be admitted in court as evidence, and breathalyzer manufacturers sell most of their products to law enforcement. As a result, the devices generally over-report breath-alcohol content, which the companies generally justify by pointing out that their readings are in fact probably correct for at least the one to two percent of the population with the lowest relative readings for a given BAC.

In any case, it's entirely ridiculous to be driving when one's BAC is anywhere near that high. Scientific studies have shown that the upper bound on the safe limit is generally around 0.12% to 0.15%, and the legal limit for driving in most states is generally between 0.08% and 0.12%, which means that anything above a 0.05% BAC could be used to revoke your drivers' license.

Answer 2

At 0.4 the normal person would be unconscious, comatose or even dead, however it is known that chronic drunks can have alcohol levels this high and still be alert and functional (if you can call that being functional) since their systems have become so altered that they cannot function at alcohol levels below which you or I would be totally wasted.

It is hard to believe that any normal person could operate a vehicle at that level. Maybe she meant 0.14 ... that would make more sense, however if she truly tested at 0.4 it is possible that the meter was not well calibrated. Maybe her lawyer could use that in her defense.

Answer 3

not sure bout all the different answers but i know this in the states any thing above .08 on the breathalizer is illegal but i have had a dui and went to jail and blew too high for the breathalizer but if anything she might be trying to brag by assuming a number cause i know the night i got mine i wasnt wasted but knew id had too much to b legal and i cant tell you what i blew i was trying to travel 4 blocks and i learned my lesson because 1 yr probation 1 yr wout license and $1700 later i was too upset for being caught to know what i blew

Answer 4

of direction it is not plausible to make some thing 500%.think of approximately it. length is often carried out first with a hydrometer. you initiate out with countless substance in water. because of the fact the water is used up and converted to alcohol, the particular gravity is going down. It is going down extra suitable while the liquid is distilled. you may no longer get a hundred% potable alcohol. on a similar time as you ought to purchase "absolute" alcohol for laboratory use, the previous couple of % of water is bumped off with sulfuric acid. It would not make an exceptionally stable drink. the main powerful drink you ought to purchase (in some places) is Spyritus, a Polish vodka. The grain-based Spyritus bought interior the u . s . a . is ninety six%. In Poland, they sell the potato-based Spyritus, that's ninety six.5% alcohol. i assume the Poles think of that we can't take care of the sturdy stuff.

Answer 5

Last week, I beliefe I saw it on Yahoo.de, there was a notice. A man in Belorussia was run over by a car. He had 12.3 promille. That was the highest alcohol level ever meassured. Normally at 4 promille starts letallity.
Greetings from Hamburg, Germany
Heinz

Answer 6

in canada .08 is considered in paired she would have had a lot to drink to blow a .4 I would think

Answer 7

They also judge whether or not the person is ABLE to drive. The cops obviously felt it was not safe for her to drive.

Answer 8

She probably meant .04, but even that is consider lethal. She would have been taken to the hospital not jail..

Answer 9

Yes to your first question and no to the 2nd.

Answer 10

At 0.4 she would be dead. Then again, at 0.4%, which is far different, she would just be very, very, very drunk.

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