At approximately 2:30 a.m. on a recent Saturday morning, a 20-year-old Utah man was involved in a motorcycle accident. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of the injuries he suffered in the crash. Police suspect the man was impaired and arrested him for DUI.
Police reports indicate that the driver was heading north when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. Investigators blame speed and traveling in the wrong lane for the accident. However, it was also suspected that impairment was a contributing factor.
At the hospital, a sample of his blood was taken for analysis to determine whether the suspicions of police were correct. Apparently, the driver was involved in a previous alcohol-related incident, so he was cited with an additional violation. Moreover, because he is under Utah’s legal drinking age, a third violation was added for a minor consuming alcohol.
Because of his age, it is not necessary for his blood alcohol level to be .08 or above to face DUI charges. In Utah, the presence of any alcohol in a minor’s system is illegal. Therefore, anyone under the age of 21 who has a blood alcohol content above .00 may be charged with driving under the influence.
Before any penalties can be imposed against the driver, prosecutors will need to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If the evidence fails to support a charge of DUI, no criminal conviction is possible. A thorough review of the evidence and the manner in which it was gathered could provide the defense with the information needed to prepare a focused and meaningful defense with regard to the upcoming court proceedings.
Source: stgeorgeutah.com, “Police arrest man taken to hospital after motorcycle crash for DUI“, Kimberly Scott, Aug. 2, 2015