You sent a driver for an Alcohol Test. His result comes back with more than 0.0 but less than .04. What should I do?
The conventional wishdom for Alcohol Test level is “if it is less than .04”, it is considered negative. But there is more to it than the popular belief. Actually, a Blood Alcohol Concentration or BAC of 0.02 or greater is considered positive for DOT alcohol testing. Here are some more details:
- A BAC of 0.04 or higher is a rule violation, requiring more stringent consequences, including a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) evaluation and a return-to-duty test.
- A BAC between 0.02 and 0.039 is considered prohibited conduct, requiring temporary removal from safety-sensitive duties, but it is not necessarily a rule violation.
- A BAC of 0.08% or higher is generally considered legally intoxicated when driving in the US, according to some sources