Dui

Avoiding a DUI is the simplest thing in the world: Be responsible. Drinking and driving is a deadly habit engaged in by too many individuals. Unfortunately, alcohol is well known for its judgment-impairing effects. This means that individuals who have had a few-or a few too many-are the last people who should be asked about their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. A breathalyzer is generally thought of as a tool used by police to bust drunk drivers. Versions of the technology available to private individuals do something far more important than prevent DUI arrests: They keep drunks off the road.

Where drunk-driving law is concerned, the question is really not one of being drunk, per se, but rather a question of one being over the legal limit. In most states, this legal limit is set at between .08 and .10 blood alcohol content. Unfortunately, this level of intoxication is oftentimes less than what is required to make individuals feel what they would actually consider drunk. Particularly in individuals with a very high tolerance for alcohol, this may feel like a mild "buzz." The fact remains, however, that at this level of blood alcohol content an individual is sufficiently physically and mentally impaired to present a very real threat to themselves and other drivers on the road.

Avoiding a DUI should be less of a concern than is presenting a threat to others. Everyone who likes to imbibe now and then can likely remember at least one occasion where a friend had to convince them that they'd had a few too many. A breathalyzer is a bit of an improvement over that friend's opinion. Instead of being a subjective assessment of one's mental state, it provides an objective measure of one's blood alcohol content. It also provides notice that, should one choose to ignore the breathalyzer's assessment, they may be trying to convince a much tougher audience than their friend that they're safe to be behind the wheel.

There are breathalyzer models available for individuals, for bars and for just about any other use one can imagine. These devices are quite affordable-certainly less than the cost of a DUI conviction-and provide a handy means of assessing whether or not it's safe for an individual to drive their car home or whether to call a cab. As laws get tougher, these devices are becoming more and more popular.