Statistics reveal that more and more women are being arrested for drunk driving than ever before. Although a vast majority of drunk driving arrests involve men and the number of women who admit to drunk driving remains to be relatively consistent since the 1980s, the total number of women arrested for DWI has increased dramatically over the last three decades – accounting for almost one-quarter of drivers arrested.
Of course, there could be several reasons for the increase in DWIs among women. There are more women in today’s workforce and hence more women driving on roads. It has also become more socially acceptable for women of all ages to drink in public compared to before. Work stress and relationship issues are believed to be common factors for substance abuse issues among women.
While the prosecution and courts may simply attribute this rise in numbers to an increase in female drinking and driving, recent studies show, that there may be a higher probability for women to be falsely arrested for DWI as compared to their male counterparts.
Since a woman’s physiology is unique and handles alcohol in a manner that is different from a man’s. Expert testimonies have repeatedly shown that women are placed in a bad light due to the initial breathalyzer producing false results. It’s possible in some cases that breath test machines may not accurately calculate female alcohol levels, particularly due to the hormonal and bio-chemical differences between makes and females.
In some instances, the difference in body temperature between a man and a woman will play a part in DWI test results. The fluctuation in body temperature and hormones is larger in a woman, particularly during her premenstrual state. A breath testing machine could make incorrect assumptions since these machines generally assume a breath temperature of 34 degrees Celsius. With a higher degree of body temperature, a reading may be artificially high.
Some studies also indicate that women have less alcohol metabolizing enzymes in their stomachs and smaller distribution volumes, thus the reason they absorb alcohol differently. If a man and a woman of the same weight and height consume the same amount of alcohol, the women will very likely have a higher BAC level than the man.
Also, since all suspected DWI offenders could possibly be subject to roadside sobriety tests (if they opt to take them), women may be at an immediate disadvantage if they are intimidated into participating in these tests. Medical professionals accept the fact that women handle stress differently than men, and may even fear stepping out of their vehicles at the request of a police officer. The heightened stress may cause relatively poor performance in a roadside sobriety test.
In some instances, women may also be wearing shoes that are not ideal for roadside agility. They may be forced to perform a test or a series of field sobriety tests in bare feet or in uncomfortable footwear such as high heels, which can greatly affect their performance.
DWI laws are becoming more severe, and these can open the door to numerous wrongful female DWI convictions and charges. Women being charged with DWI must protect themselves against wrongful prosecution by seeking legal representation from a skilled and experienced attorney who can properly investigate their case and craft the best defense.
Source: Female Drunk Drivers, published on https://www.duifoundation.org/support/prevention/reporting/.
If you are in need of a Minneapolis DWI defense attorney contact us today for a FREE case review!
