In Virginia, what BAC indicates that a person under 21 is considered impaired?

In Virginia, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02 is the threshold at which a person under 21 is considered impaired. This is part of Virginia's zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking, which aims to prevent alcohol-related incidents among young drivers. The reasoning behind setting this limit is that even small amounts of alcohol can affect a person's reaction times, judgment, and coordination, all of which are crucial for safe driving.

While the legal limit for individuals 21 and older is set at 0.08, the lower BAC for those under 21 reflects the state's prioritization of safety for younger, less experienced drivers. This means that any detectable alcohol in the system of an underage driver can lead to legal repercussions, emphasizing the importance of not drinking and driving at all for individuals under the legal drinking age.