Every state has slightly different laws when it comes to driving while intoxicated. DWI infractions occur when a driver has a breath or blood alcohol test above the legal limit of that state. In New Mexico, drivers cannot have a breath or blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more if they’re 21 or over. If the driver is under 21 years old, then they cannot have a breath or blood alcohol concentration over 0.02.
There are other factors that go into charging a driver with DWI in New Mexico. You can be charged with driving while intoxicated even if you pass the breath test and your blood alcohol concentration is under the limit.
What other factors can lead to being convicted of DWI?
Drivers can be convicted of DWI if their ability to drive is altered by drugs or alcohol, even if their breath test came back with under 0.08 alcohol concentration. For example, if you got into a car accident and a Breathalyzer said that you had 0.03 blood alcohol content, then the officers could still argue that you crashed your car because of the alcohol.
If you’re driving while under the influence of something other than alcohol, that can also result in a DWI. These can be illegal drugs like marijuana or even prescription drugs that alter your ability to drive.
How to avoid a DWI
To avoid accidentally driving under the influence, there are a few precautions that you should take. These include the following:
– Monitor how much you drink if you’re planning to drive at all, or call a taxi.
– Never drink alcohol while taking drugs or medication as the interaction can further impair your ability to function.
– Check the label on prescription drugs to see what the side effects are.
It’s illegal to drive while under the influence. In addition, alcohol and drugs can heavily impair your ability to drive without you noticing until it’s too late, so make sure to take precautions if you’re planning to drink or take medication.
