Busted: 5 Drunk Driving Myths That Won’t Fool The Law
A staggering amount of people fall the victim of drunk driving every year – yet some still believe if their “extra cautious” driving can’t keep them out of trouble then fooling the system will prevent them from being caught.
It may not surprise you to learn that testing for a person’s alcohol level is more sophisticated than some expect. Listed below are five of the most common myths that people can associate to deceiving the relevant authorities.
1) Refusing a test will prevent you from being arrested
You can still be arrested for a DUI or DWI offence, even if you refuse a breathalyzer test. This is merely up to the discretion of the attending officers.
2) A cold shower can “sober you up”
Often, people who have drank heavily the night before believe that a cold shower will help “sober them up” and prevent being caught for a DUI or DWI offence in Minnesota. However, this is far from the case. Alcohol can still remain in your bloodstream for a number of hours – depending on the number of units you have consumed.
3) Mints or chewing gum can hide the consumption of alcohol
It’s certainly true that chewing gum, mints or using mouthwash can help to disguise the stench of alcohol from a person’s breath but it has no effect on the breathalyzers that police use. In fact, the smell of fresh breath can often indicate that a driver may be intentionally attempting to reduce the effect of alcohol in their system – getting them into more trouble than they already are.
4) Sucking on a penny can negate a breathalyzer test
This particular myth is based upon an urban legend that suggests sucking on copper negates the validity of a breathalyzer test. This, however, has no truth to it whatsoever. In fact, pennies are indeed made of zinc – and not copper!
5) You will be asked to repeat the alphabet (backwards)
There are a number of sobriety tests that law enforcement can take advantage of when judging a person’s suitability to drive. Among those are checking whether persons need to use their arms for balance, follow an object with their eyes, stand on one leg and recite the alphabet (forward!).
