Legal Definitions - per se

Per se is a Latin term that means "by itself" or "inherently".

For example, in tort law, if someone violates a statute, it is considered negligence per se. This means that the violation of the statute is inherently a breach of duty, and the plaintiff does not need to prove that the defendant breached their duty.

Another example of per se is in the context of alcohol and driving. In many states, if a driver's blood alcohol content (BAC) is above a certain level, usually 0.08%, they are considered to be driving under the influence (DUI) per se. This means that the driver is automatically considered to be impaired, regardless of whether they show any other signs of impairment.

These examples illustrate the concept of per se because they show that something is considered inherently true or inherently a violation without needing further proof or evidence.