For most, it’s common knowledge that the legal blood alcohol (BAC) limit for operating a motor vehicle in the state of California is less than .08 percent. However, many people might not realize how much alcohol, or more importantly, how little alcohol it takes to get to a BAC of .08 percent or more.
This is why the Folsom Police Department launched the Know Your Limit program in 2016. FPD officers go on foot into Folsom’s various entertainment districts where they contact club and bar goers outside the businesses. Volunteers are asked what they believe their BAC is currently, and if they feel they’d be safe to drive a car. They then blow into a breathalyzer in front of their friends.
Detectives from the Folsom Police Department conducted this kind of operation in December outside several bars and restaurants in Folsom and they found quite a few citizens who wanted to know their BAC. The detectives tested them and educated them on their own BAC, and gave them important information about how to keep from driving while over the limit.
“It’s surprising for most how high their BAC is,“ says Lieutenant Mark Schanrock of the Folsom Police Department. Volunteer participants, even those with BAC’s in excess of .08, aren’t arrested for being drunk in public. Instead, they’re given a sticker and an educational card. The card provides information on alcohol consumption and burn-off times, legal driving limits, and common penalties for first time DUI drivers. First-time DUI drivers in California can expect up to 6 months imprisonment or 3-years probation, legal costs up to $10,000, a driver’s license suspension for up six months, and having their vehicle impounded.
Detectives will again be out on Thursday, June 29th, 2017. They will be working in different areas, looking for people who want to be tested. The program isn't intended as a scare tactic. Instead, it’s designed to be provide an educational opportunity within the Folsom Community to encourage groups to designate a sober driver and make good choices. FPD is also working with the business owners to make sure the program is a positive influence on their patrons and does not negatively impact their business.
