Driving Under the Influence

Under Nevada law, driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, prescription and non prescription medication is Illegal.

Nevada laws on driving under the influence are tough. Under these laws, there are two types of penalties:

• Administrative action taken against the driver by the DMV. This happens regardless of the court findings.
• Criminal which is action taken by the court.

Prescription drugs:

They may hinder your driving ability by reducing your level of alertness or ability to perform complex tasks.

Non prescription drugs:

Over-the-counter drugs include aspirins, cold pills, cough syrup and sleep aids. Ask your pharmacist how the drug you are taking may affect your driving.

Illegal drugs:

Most drugs act on the central nervous system which includes the brain and spinal cord.

Stimulants such as amphetamines speed the system up. They can also cause:

• Loss of coordination
• Over excitability
• Lack of concentration

Depressants such as tranquilizers slow your system down. They can also:

• Slow your reaction time
• Impair coordination
• Hinder judgment
• Affect your vision

Hallucinogens affect the way a user sees things and can produce hallucinations. These drugs can also:

• Cause confusion
• Impair judgment
• Slow reaction time

Alcohol:

Under the implied consent law, you will take any test deemed necessary if a police officer suspects that you are driving under the influence.

Half of all fatalities that happen every year are caused by someone driving under the influence.

Under Nevada law, the legal limit for an adult is .08 and the legal limit for anyone under the age of 21 is .02

How alcohol works in your body:

• 40% of consumed alcohol is absorbed through your stomach wall directly into your bloodstream and goes to your brain therefore the first thing affected is your judgment.

A standard drink is:

• A 12-ounce bottle or can of regular beer
• A 5-ounce glass of wine
• A shot of hard liquor

The best way to sober up is time.

• On average, it takes approximately one hour per drink consumed to lower your BAC down to a safe level.

It is against the law to have an open container in the driver or passenger areas of your vehicle.

Author: Rich Heinrich

Master Instructor, Emeritus