Raleigh DUI Misconception Lawyer

Five Myths and Misconceptions about Driving While Intoxicated

Drinking coffee or taking a cold shower will help me sober up faster.

Coffee and cold water might make you more alert and less likely to doze off (for the moment), but neither will do a thing to lower the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. The only thing that will bring you back to sobriety is time—approximately one hour for each ounce of alcohol consumed.

Sucking on a penny / battery / mouthwash will help me pass a Breathalyzer test.

Many people believe that the copper present in a penny or battery will somehow chemically react with alcohol to “fool” a Breathalyzer test (indicating a much lower BAC). This has been proven false by multiple sources. Breath fresheners like Listerine or Binaca, on the other hand, may fool nearby people by disguising alcohol breath—but up against a Breathalyzer, these fresheners can actually produce significantly higher BAC readings.

I can’t get a DUI / DWI if I wasn’t driving.

A common misconception that gets a lot of people into trouble is that you have to be caught driving to be charged with a DUI or DWI. In fact, all you need is to be behind the wheel with a BAC over the legal limit. In other words: if a police officer finds you sleeping one off in your parked car, with a key in the ignition for the air conditioner, you could still end up taking a ride downtown.

My BAC will be much lower if I drink after eating a big meal.

Contrary to popular belief, the food present in a full stomach will not “catch” the alcohol you have consumed and whisk it away harmlessly. An empty stomach will release alcohol into your bloodstream much quicker, giving the illusion of the alcohol being more potent. In fact, a full or empty stomach actually makes little difference on how much alcohol is released into your bloodstream in the long run.

I don’t need a DUI attorney to represent me at trial.

A DWI or DUI can have many consequences, and is not a charge that should be taken lightly. By handling your case without the experience and knowledge of a professional DUI attorney, you risk opening yourself up to fines, jail time, and a suspended license. A good Raleigh DUI attorney will have superior knowledge of local and state traffic laws and can use them to your favor, working hard to reduce charges or have your trial dismissed. The state will be using top prosecution lawyers to represent itself against you, and you deserve the same protection. If you are facing a DUI charge in North Carolina, the smartest thing you can do is contact a skilled Raleigh DUI attorney to start building your case as soon as possible.