How Will an Officer Determine if You are Driving Under the Influence in Las Vegas?

Driving under the influence is both dangerous and foolhardy, due to alcohol's negative effects on the body. The legal system is well aware of the possible consequences associated with driving after having consumed alcohol, and as such is very hard on those who chose to do so.

As Las Vegas is one of the greatest tourist attractions in the United States it stands to logic that it would have some of the greatest consequences for those who choose to violate its laws. Chances are good that if you are stopped due to an officer suspecting you of driving under the influence you have either been driving in an erratic manner or have found yourself in the middle of a police roadblock. The officer will ask you some questions regarding your activities and alcohol consumption that evening and ask to see your license and registration. You will probably then be asked to perform a series of sobriety tests, such as walking a straight line or reciting the alphabet backwards (a word of caution: informing the officer that these are tasks you cannot do while sober will not help your case any!) If the officer then feels that it is necessary you will be asked to perform either a breathalyzer or blood test.

A breathalyzer is a device that allows the officer to determine the alcohol content of a person's breath, then use that figure to determine the concentration that is found in the suspect's blood (the concentration of alcohol in a person's breath after drinking is approximately 1/2300 of the concentration in the blood). Results of a breathalyzer are immediate, and the officer will then be able to determine if the suspect will be allowed to go free or if they will be subject to a license revocation.

A BAC (blood alcohol concentration) that is determined directly from the blood will require the suspect to submit a sample of venous blood that will be drawn by a phlebotomist in the presence of an officer. Blood tests will be performed at the police station or in another medical facility in the presence of an officer of the court, and determination on license suspension will be withheld until these results are back. It is necessary that the prosecutor determine precisely what your blood alcohol content was at the time you were actually operating a vehicle.

If after completing these procedures you are found to have had a blood alcohol level of greater than .08% the Nevada DMV will suspend your license, and further steps will be taken.

Recommended Reading:

1. What Will Happen If You Are Caught Driving Under the Influence In Las Vegas? - (A Guide for First Time Offenders) Las Vegas is one of the greatest tourist attractions in the United States, and...
2. What Are Your Rights If You Are Suspected of Driving under the Influence in Las Vegas? - There is very little in life more humiliating than being stopped by a police officer while you are driving under...
3. How to Avoid Jail Time if You are Caught Driving Under the Influence in Las Vegas - Driving under the influence is a very serious offense, and one that is not taken lightly anywhere in the United...
4. What Are the Consequences of Driving Under the Influence in Las Vegas? - Even in Sin City the consequences of driving while under the influence are severe; the mass quantity of people that...
5. How Does a Breathalyzer Test Work? - Las Vegas has earned a name for itself as one of the greatest attractions in the United States. This reputation...