How do DUI Laws Work in Utah?

By Jason White | Published on September 1, 2011 | 0 Comments

When compared to many other states, Utah has extremely strict drunk driving laws and penalties. Because of this, the Provo DUI lawyers at Jason White Attorney at Law say it is extremely important for people who have been arrested and charged with a DUI to get in contact with an attorney as quickly as possible.

Individuals who are charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol need to speak with an attorney who has ample experience with this area of the law, such as the Provo DUI lawyers at Jason White Attorney at Law.

Based on the Utah law, there are several different scenarios in which a person can get arrested for or convicted of driving under the influence. The most common DUIs are related to driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs. The legal alcohol limits in Utah are .08, which means a person cannot be in physical control of a vehicle if his blood alcohol concentration is at .08 or higher.

What is important to note, however, is that the Utah law states that a person with a BAC of .08 or greater can’t be in “actual physical custody” of a vehicle, as opposed to saying that a person who is intoxicated cannot drive a vehicle. What does this mean to the average person? As attorney Jason White explains, it means that a person can get charged with a DUI even if he is not driving. An officer who spots an intoxicated individual sitting in the driver’s seat of a car or sleeping in the front seat of a vehicle could cite him or her and the person could be charged with a DUI.

Another part of the Utah code that Provo DUI lawyers tend to emphasize has to do with when a person is not safe to operate a vehicle. Based on the way the laws are written, a person can be charged with a DUI even if his BAC is under the legal limit. This becomes an issue in cases where an officer believes a person was driving unsafely, even though his BAC was technically under .08 at the time of the roadside test.

White has worked with people who were charged with driving under the influence because they had been taking medications that were prescribed by their doctors. If a person is pulled over and found to be on prescription drugs, or if his BAC is higher than normal simply because he did not eat anything before having a single drink, then he can – and often will – be charged with a DUI.

DUI cases in Utah are extremely complex, which is why drivers are encouraged to get in contact with DUI lawyers in Provo immediately if they are charged with this serious crime.

*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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