All posts tagged driving drunk

Understanding the Criminal Penalties of Drunk Driving

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/02/19 in On the Road with Comments Off on Understanding the Criminal Penalties of Drunk Driving

Operating a motor vehicle while drunk can put yourself and others on the road in serious danger not only to yourself, but to everyone else on the road around you and to anyone that may be riding in the car with you. However, if you are caught driving while intoxicated, you could face a variety of criminal penalties. These penalties could erode your financial stability, your ability to progress in your career and have an impact on personal relationships. In other words, drunk driving is a very serious crime.

You Could Face Jail Time

Even for a first-offense, you could face as little as 24 hours in jail to as much as six months in jail. While a judge may be willing to let you do community service or probation in lieu of jail time, it may be mandatory if you have previous convictions for drunk driving. You could also face many months or years in jail if you hurt or kill someone while driving drunk or have a BAC over .10 when you are pulled over. This becomes an even more serious crime if you are in a car accident with another driver. Jail time could turn into prison time especially if you have more than one offense against you. If anyone is killed in the result of your drunk driving accident, you could potentially face up to several years in jail depending on the state law.

You May Be Ordered to Pay a Fine

In addition to legal fees and increased insurance costs, you may be required to pay a fine ranging from $100 up to $1,000 or more depending on the facts in your case. While an attorney such as one from the Johnston Law Firm, LLC will attempt to keep your fine to a reasonable amount, state statutes may also dictate a mandatory minimum fine.

Your License Could be Suspended or Revoked

If your license is suspended or revoked, you cannot drive any vehicle under any circumstances. In some cases, you may be granted the right to drive to work or school or drive during certain hours to pick up your children from work or school. If you refuse to take a breath test when you are pulled over, your license is automatically suspended for one-year. If your license is taken away, it will drastically limit your freedom in terms of work, school, and having a social life.

Your Car May Need an Ignition Interlock Device

An ignition interlock device stops your car from starting if your blood alcohol content is .02 percent or higher. You are responsible for buying it and paying to have it installed in your vehicle. If someone else blows into the device for you, that person could be guilty of a crime if you subsequently caught driving while intoxicated.

If you are charged with drunk driving, you should call an attorney immediately. Your financial future, your professional future and your freedom could all be on the line. If you are convicted, you may need to tell future employers when you apply for a job, which could interfere with your ability to find gainful employment.

Drunk Driving Statistics and What’s Changing on the Roads Today

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/01/21 in On the Road with Comments Off on Drunk Driving Statistics and What’s Changing on the Roads Today

Although drunk driving has decreased in recent years, it remains a serious problem in our country. During the average hour, about 30 people suffer injuries caused by intoxicated drivers. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving such accidents killed 10,076 Americans in 2013. Various estimates indicate that these crashes cost the nation $60 to $200 billion per year. About 2.3 percent of the victims are children under 15 years old.

Improvements

The good news is that fatalities have decreased by more than 50 percent since 1980. Government figures show that the number of people killed in 2013 was about 250 less than the statistic for 2012. While alcohol continues to play a role in about 29 percent of highway deaths, this compares well with rates reported during the 1960s and 1970s. Intoxication caused about three out of five fatalities in that time period.

Enforcement

State and local authorities have become more serious about enforcing drunk driving laws. Gone are the days when police would ignore all but the most serious cases of driver intoxication. Stricter laws and sobriety checkpoints have also made a difference. For example, KOMO-TV reported that three counties in Washington State introduced new laws during 2014. Drunk drivers with multiple convictions must undergo daily alcohol tests.

Awareness

Shifting attitudes and greater awareness of the problem have helped to reduce intoxicated driving as well. Media outlets and schools across the nation regularly educate the public about the risks associated with this dangerous behavior. Public service messages on radio and TV often starkly illustrate the consequences. More people realize that it’s a crime with serious medical, legal, and financial repercussions.

Safety

General improvements in highway safety are also helping to decrease fatalities and injuries. Cars have become safer in recent years, and most vehicles on today’s roads feature multiple air bags. Additional exterior lights make modern vehicles more visible to other drivers and pedestrians. Increasing numbers of cars now incorporate backup cameras. As a recent Star Tribune news article pointed out, emergency personnel are responding to accidents more quickly as well.

It’s appropriate to celebrate this progress, but more needs to be done. About six Americans die in traffic accidents involving alcoholic beverages every four hours, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This is still far too many. Even if you don’t drink or own a car, you can help solve this problem by discouraging others from driving intoxicated.

If you become involved in an alcohol-related collision, be sure to seek the assistance of a Blumenauer Hackworth lawyer.