In Kirkland, and throughout King County, law enforcement is extremely aggressive about pursuing DUI suspects. Unfortunately, the individuals charged do not always receive the fair treatment and objective DUI assessment that they deserve. That's why it's so important to hire a DUI lawyer immediately upon being charged. If you find yourself in this situation, you can contact the aggressive, experienced Kirkland DUI attorneys at Wolff Criminal Defense at 425-284-2000 for a free consultation.

The best strategy, of course, is never to drive while impaired. In recent years, DUI calculators and BAC calculators have become very popular on the Internet as means of assessing one's blood alcohol concentration prior to getting behind the wheel. You can even download DUI calculator apps for the iPhone and other smart phones. But what do these devices actually do, and how exactly do they work? There are numerous factors involved.

Weight

Blood alcohol concentration is a function of the total amount of alcohol in one's system divided by total body water. Larger people retain more water, and are therefore less vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. That's why DUI calculators require you to enter your weight.

Gender

Gender is another important variable that DUI calculators take into consideration. That's because, in general, women are more vulnerable than men to the effects of alcohol. Women tend to have less muscle mass but more body fat, and fat holds less water than muscle. As a result, women have a tendency to get buzzed more quickly, even when drinking the same amount of alcohol as a male of equal weight.

Types of Alcohol

Most DUI calculators divide alcoholic beverages into three categories: beer, wine and spirits. Each of these classifications has a different alcohol concentration, and responds differently in the body, so it's an important distinction to make. Also, when you enter the number of drinks consumed, the calculator can determine how much alcohol has entered your blood stream.

Duration

Duration is another important distinction that goes hand in hand with the type and number of drinks. For instance, if you drank 3 beers over the course of 30 minutes, you will be significantly more impaired than if you drank 3 beers over 2 hours.

Shortcomings

Bear in mind that DUI calculators can only provide a very general estimate of your impairment based on common factors. There are other factors, though, that a DUI calculator cannot determine, such as fat content vs muscle mass, how much food you consumed throughout the day, how often you drink, and how your body metabolizes alcohol in general. These factors can all vary from person to person, and they can all affect your blood alcohol concentration. So by all means, use a BAC calculator or DUI calculator to give yourself a basic impression of how impaired you might be, but take the information with a grain of salt, and don't treat it as gospel.

Need a Kirkland DUI Lawyer?

If you have been charged with DUI in Kirkland, Seattle or anywhere in King County, contact the qualified and experienced DUI lawyers at Wolff Criminal Defense today. Call us at 425-284-2000 to receive a free, confidential consultation. Don't try to fight your case alone.