If you’re involved with a DWI/DUI case in Arizona, BAC will be important. BAC – blood alcohol concentration – rises as you drink and can vary from person to person depending on sex, age, weight, and other physical characteristics. It can be estimated through field sobriety tests and figured out with accuracy through blood, urine, or breath tests.

In the United States, you cannot legally drive if your BAC is 0.08% or higher. Arizona sets additional levels as well; if you are operating a commercial vehicle, your BAC cannot exceed 0.04%. In Arizona, there is a Zero Tolerance policy law in effect for those under the age of 21. Even if you register at a low 0.01%, you could be charge with an Arizona DUI if you are not of legal drinking age.

In Arizona, they also have a distinction called an “Extreme DUI,” which can affect your penalties. This is when your BAC registers as 0.15% of higher within two hours of you driving. This state additionally has an “Aggravated DUI” rating, which means that you committed a DUI offense under the age of 15, while your license was suspended or revoked for a prior Arizona DUI offense, if it is your third DUI charge within the past seven years, or if you refuse chemical testing and are currently under ignition lock restriction.