SANTA MONICA—The Santa Monica Police Department on Tuesday, March 17 will visit local bars and restaurants to educate customers on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the region.
According to a news release from the city of Santa Monica’s website, the “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about dangers of drinking and driving and shows how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle.
Officers will ask customers how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Customers are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08 percent or higher.
According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08 percent. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40 percent alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5 percent alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12 percent alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01 percent for every 40 minutes between drinks.
The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home. It only takes a few drinks to impair.
The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.
Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
By Danny Jones