South OC Times

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA. (July 12, 2024): On Sunday, July 14, 2024, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have deputies at the Rancho Santa Margarita Summer Concert Series to educate the public on monitoring their alcohol intake through the “Know Your Limit” program.

The initiative aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and how little it takes to reach the legal limit for operating a vehicle. It is illegal for anyone aged 21 or older to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher.

The “Know Your Limit” campaign will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Summer Concert Series in Rancho Santa Margarita. During this period, deputies will ask attendees how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe it is safe to drive. Volunteers will be invited to take a breathalyzer test to see if they can accurately guess their BAC. Deputies will provide information on how alcohol affects driving ability and the consequences of a DUI.

“The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home,” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “It only takes a single drink to impair, and that’s why it is important people know their limit.”

Factors such as height, weight, food intake, drug or medication use, and drinking duration affect an individual's BAC. According to the California Driver Handbook, consuming two drinks within one hour can put a woman between 120-160 pounds over the legal limit; for men between 180-220 pounds, three drinks can do so. One drink is defined as 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5% alcohol), or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12% alcohol). The BAC decreases by .01% every 40 minutes between drinks.

The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500 when accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes, and other penalties. Planning ahead and designating a sober driver can help avoid these risks.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program comes from a grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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