There are many myths about alcohol. As a result, many people will violate laws, such as traffic laws because they are misinformed about how alcohol can affect them.
As an immigrant, a DUI charge could seriously affect your chances of reaching naturalization. It may be best to learn about several common DUI myths so that you don’t suffer life-changing penalties:
Myth 1: Coffee is a quick way to get sober
Truth: It’s commonly believed that coffee has the ability to make people sober. While coffee can make people more alert, it doesn’t remove alcohol from the body. A driver may still drive erratically and test high during a blood alcohol content (BAC) chemical test.
Myth 2: You’ll be sober in the morning
Truth: The best way to remove alcohol from the body is by waiting for the body to metabolize the alcohol, which often means going to sleep and letting time pass. However, people may still wake up and have alcohol in their body. If pulled over by the police and tested, their BAC level can still be too high.
Myth 3: It’s fine to drink low-alcohol drinks before driving
Truth: While drinking low-alcohol drinks may not cause someone’s BAC level to go too high, it doesn’t mean they are still safe to drive. Alcohol affects everyone differently. A driver may still violate traffic laws even if they don’t drink a lot.
Myth 4: You can use breath mints to hide the smell of alcohol
Truth: Breath tests are common ways to evaluate a driver’s BAC levels. It works simply by having a driver blow into a device. People may try hiding the smell of alcohol by using breath mints, gum or mouthwash. But, many of these products contain some alcohol and can raise a driver’s BAC levels.
If you’re facing criminal charges for drunk driving, then you may need to reach out for legal help to protect your immigration status.