It is sometimes difficult to determine whether or not an individual has had so much to drink that he or she should temporarily abstain from driving. For example, you may feel fine after two glasses of red wine over dinner and still have a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) that exceeds the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

A Maryland police officer recently learned this lesson the hard way when he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). He was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving while off duty. Nevertheless, the 13-year police force veteran has been suspended from his job as a result of the arrest.

This case reinforces the reality that any adult who drinks and drives within a reasonable period of time, regardless of vocation, age or background can find him or herself facing a DUI arrest.

The only surefire way to avoid a DUI charge is to wait to drive until you are completely sober. Otherwise, even if you are feeling fine after those two glasses of wine with dinner, you could be facing drunk-driving charges.

The arrest of the Maryland police officer should also serve as a valuable reminder to law enforcement in general. Police seek to arrest intoxicated drivers in the name of public safety. However, the just and impartial treatment of DUI suspects is arguably just as important as keeping intoxicated drivers off the roads.

Law enforcement should take just as much care to ensure that suspects are treated fairly during traffic stops, arrests and prosecutions as they would wish that the justice system would provide them, should they ever be arrested for drunk driving.

Source: WBAL-TV.com, "Md. Police Officer Arrested On DUI Charge," Feb. 8, 2012