Driving under the influence, which is also referred to as DUI, is the act of driving after one has been drinking and/or using drugs. Everyday, thousands of intoxicated people choose to get behind the wheel of the car. Many people think that it is okay to drive while they are under the influence because they may be feeling fine. However, DUI has several damaging effects. Below are just a few of the negative effects that can stem from driving under the influence:

People who drive under the influence endanger the lives of others

It is estimated that nearly 17,000 of the fatal car accidents in America can be attributed to drugs and/or alcohol. This is nearly 40 percent of the fatal accidents. Additionally, it is estimated that 13,000 people die each year as the result of a drunk driver. Most of the people who were killed by someone who was driving under the influence just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

People who drive under the influence endanger their own lives

People think that just because they are feeling fine they are fit to drive. However, studies have shown drugs and alcohol greatly impairs people’s driving. It is estimated that 8000 drivers are killed each year because they were under the influence while they were driving.

People who drive under the influence can get into serious trouble with the law

Even if a person manages to avoid injuring him or herself and others, he or she could still be in serious trouble. The law has cracked down on people who choose to drive while intoxicated. The penalties for DUI can vary greatly depending on the state that one lives in. The first time a person is stopped for DUI he or she can expect to serve 30 days in jail and pay a fine. If this person is stopped the second time, he or she can expect to serve a longer sentence in jail and possibly the licensed suspended.

Stands for Driving Under Influence. There are many accidents happening across all the states due to drunken driving. These kind of accidents may also lead to death of people involved in the accident. It can also be referred as DWI, Driving While Intoxicated. DUI laws are created to prevent such accidents and deaths.

DUI accidents happen when a person drives the vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol reduces the level at which brain has to react to the events happening around you. This make the driver unable to handle the vehicle properly and may lead to a accident. There are many risks involved in drunken driving. The risk is not just for your life but to the other people around you and the people traveling along with you. All the states are very strict in implementing DUI laws. It is considered a class 1 misdemeanor by many states in US.

Many states have a legal drinking age of 21 years. Few states allow low level alcohol consumption at age 18. When you are driving after consuming alcohol and if an officer suspects that you may be driving under influence, he or she may stop you and check you. Initially they rely on the way you speak and the odor that comes from your mouth. If they feel that they are getting strong odors and you were not able to talk properly, they may ask you for a sobriety test to find out the level of intoxication. If you fail in those tests, the officer may ask for BAC test. BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Content. If you show a high level of BAC than allowed, then you will be charged under DUI law. A person driving under influence can refuse to take all these tests and hire a lawyer to defend his or her case.

If you ever get caught driving under influence, the consequences would be very severe including your driver’s license suspension. It would cause a lot of stress both mentally and financially. The immediate consequence of a DUI charge is increase in your insurance premium. You may also have to attend DUI classes and join any accident prevention program. Another problem with DUI is if the accident causes severe injuries or death, the person driving under influence may have to face serious penalties like serving prison time, life time suspension of driver’s license.

Few tips to avoid DUI charges:
- Do not drive when you are drunk.
- Always follow safe driving rules.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition.
- If charged with DUI, do not take sobriety tests, take the help of a lawyer to help you out of the DUI charges.

Anyone who has been convicted of a DUI will tell you it’s a costly offense. DUI laws vary by state, but overall the process and consequences are relatively similar. The standard Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit necessary for conviction in most states is .08%. However, in many states a person can be convicted of an extreme DUI, which has greater consequences. At a BAC level of .13% or more, a person has to be pretty drunk to get an extreme DUI. In such a case, one should just be thankful if no one was hurt (including themselves).

Most DUI convictions carry a jail sentence. Of course the length of the sentence depends upon the severity of the DUI. Misdemeanor first offenses usually carry a term of 3-10 days. Extreme offenses usually are a little longer. Repeat offenders often must serve slightly longer sentences. Most states operate under a three strikes policy, making a third offense very costly, often including felony designation and prison time.

When arrested for DUI, one of the first things to happen will be an automatic suspension of your driver’s license. A person does have a limited time frame to request an administrative driver’s license hearing with the MVD. The time frame depends upon the state, but in most states a hearing request must be made within 7-10 days.

If unable to get a hearing an automatic driver’s license suspension will occur. The length of suspension varies by the state and the severity of the offense. First time offenders can expect a suspension of 3-6 months, and in some states an extreme DUI can mean a driving suspension of one year. For repeat offenders, the consequences can be quite worse. Often, a license may be revoked for 1-2 years.

After the driving suspension is lifted a person will most likely have to have a breathalyzer machine installed in their vehicle for at least a year. The breathalyzer is called an ignition interlock device, because it is connected to the vehicle’s ignition and the car won’t start without successfully blowing into the device. The interlock device will also go off randomly while driving. It is not only embarrassing, but costly. The machine rental will cost approximately $1,000.

DUI’s are very costly, but can be easily avoided. Save time, money, and embarrassment by calling a taxi or a friend on the next night out. It is better to wake up in your own bed than a jailhouse mat.

Critics of the United States often tout our severe laws in comparison to other countries. However, these critics are many times unaware that the US DUI laws are actually extremely lax when looking at DUI laws around the world. Though penalties vary from state to state, in the US, non-commercial drivers are not considered legally intoxicated until their blood alcohol levels reach 0.08%. Though other countries, like New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and most Central American countries also use 0.08% as their basis for intoxication, most countries are much less lenient.

Most European countries charge drivers with DUIs with a 0.05% blood alcohol level. However, there are several European countries that have a much lower limit. Norway, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia charge drivers with a 0.02% blood alcohol level, while Albania utilizes 0.01%. Even stricter, the Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, and the Ukraine allow no alcohol whatsoever for those behind the wheel. Persons convicted of DUIs can face fines, loss of license, and even jail time.

The rest of the world varies significantly with both blood alcohol level and punishments. In China, a driver with a 0.02% blood alcohol faces a mandatory six month penal detention stay as well as revocation of a driver’s license of up to three months. In Europe, many drivers that are convicted of DUIs, at minimum, face a driving ban. Ireland, for example, bans drivers convicted of DUIs for up to two years and imposes a stiff fine.

One of the major differences between the United States and many other countries is the limit of blood alcohol allowed for new drivers. Most countries do not allow new drivers, that is, those with less than three years of driving experience, to have any alcohol in their system. This may be explained by the fact that most countries, the minimum driving age is 18, whereas in the US, though it varies by state, the driving age for the most part is 16. Exceptions to this rule are New Zealand, whose driving age is 15, and Niger, whose driving age is 23. Compare the age discrepancy in driving to the legal age for drinking alcohol, which is, in most countries, also 18. In the United States, drinking alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal.

Billionaire Walmart heiress Alice Walton, age 62, was arrested for DWI in Texas Friday night October 7th near her hometown of Millsap, Texas. While driving home from a birthday party in her honor at a Fort Worth restaurant, she was stopped by the Texas Highway Patrol for driving 71 in a 55 mph construction zone. After failing a field sobriety test, it became clear she was intoxicated and she was then taken into custody. She refused to take a blood alcohol test, and she spent the night in jail, dressed in prison garb on her birthday.

This was not Ms. Walton’s first traffic infraction. With multiple speeding violations under her belt, in April 1989 she was speeding in her Porsche when she hit 50 year old Oleta Hardin, mother of two, who had stepped off the curb to see if her ride was coming. Hardin was thrown up on the hood of the car and killed. No charges were filed in the fatal accident. In 1998 Walton was convicted of four counts of drunk driving in Arkansas, but did no jail time. She could have paid the $650 fine and had that case dismissed but she chose to fight.

The photo is a good example of why you should hire a driver if you’re going to be drinking. especially when your fortune of $21 billion dollars allows it.  Hopefully she’ll have a good DWI attorney.

Mugshot in prison garb

All 50 states have laws that state that DUI is a crime. Driving under the influence is defined as driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or over.

Getting a DUI doesn’t just mean you have committed a crime. Let me tell you, there are plenty of consequences that you will face. I am not trying to scare anyone but getting a DUI is a serious thing. You can get your license taken away. In fact, 41 states allow for license revocation. Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that if you refuse to take a breathalyzer test, they can take you license before you are even convicted.

The next thing to be affected by a DUI is your car insurance. And you thought we were done with the consequences. We are just getting started. If convicted, your insurance rates will fly through the roof. You will also be required to get an SR-22 for three years. With an SR-22, your insurance is monitored because of the fact you are a problem driver. Since you are considered a high risk driver, your insurance company can deny your policy altogether.

Next up on the list is employment. If you are convicted and applying for a new job, you will have to disclose that on the job application. There is a box that asks if you have been convicted of a crime.

So here is how the process goes. You have been drinking and you get behind the wheel of you car and start driving. A few minutes later, you see blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror. You pull over and the next thing you know, a cop is at your window asking for your license, registration and insurance. After he smells the alcohol on your breath, he asks you to step out of the car. The officer may then ask you to take a field sobriety tests. We have all seen them on TV cop shows. You have to say the alphabet, walk a straight line or follow a pen with your eyes. A breathalyzer can also be given. A breathalyzer is where you blow into a device that calculates your blood alcohol level.

As I previously stated, in every state it is illegal to drink and drive. The penalties will vary, however. For instance, in the state of New Hampshire, for your first offense you lose you license for six months, 3 years for a second offense and 5 years for your third offense. After your second offense, you serve mandatory jail time.

When an individual is arrested for DUI or driving under the influence it can be an emotionally taxing ordeal. Any person who is facing a DUI conviction should be aware of some very important things regarding DUI law. First, in terms of the legalities or punishment for a DUI charge, that can differ by state. Generally speaking, there are some punishments that are the same in each state and those punishments for offenders can include: probation, community service, fines, vehicle seizures, and even a jail sentence.

People who have been charged with a DUI should understand that in the United States in all of the fifty states there is some version of the implied consent law. Driving is a privilege and in exchange for that privilege, if you have been suspected of driving under the influence, you will be subject to some sort of field sobriety test or breathalyzer in order to determine your level of impairment. Refusal to comply carries a penalty of your license being suspended for up to one year.

In reference to a person’s level of intoxication or what is deemed over the limit, this is something that varies by state. This the determining factor in whether or not an individual will be charged with a DUI. Typically, many states have adopted that, 0.8% is the legal limit. This number has been derived from several studies that show that 0.8% is the level of intoxication that can cause impairment and a person to be more likely than not to be involved in a car accident. A person who has a blood alcohol level of 0.8% or higher will often be convicted of driving of the influence. This does not apply to persons who are under the age of 21. There is a zero tolerance law in place for underage drinkers. If you are underage and have been suspected of drinking, you will have a DUI on your record. It does not matter how little alcohol you have consumed. This law is across the board in every state. If you have been charged with a DUI, you need to understand that a conviction can have criminal and civic implications. For example, if your driving while under the influence has caused injury, property damage, or worse yet, death, you could be liable for monetary damages even if you managed to secure a not guilty verdict in the case.

DUI Tips
It is likely that either you or someone you know has had an experience with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) to drive for each state is .08 or less. It is impossible to know what .08 BAC feels or looks like. You certainly do not have to be considered drunk to be over .08 BAC. There are several factors that influence how quickly and easily alcohol is absorbed into your body. The effect on motor skills and reaction times will vary from person to person.

Clearly, the best method for avoiding a DUI arrest is not drinking and driving. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. If you find yourself being pulled over after having some drinks, the situation can be scary and overwhelming in the least. Whether you are pulled over for speeding or suspicion, you are immediately under investigation and anything you say or do can be used against you in court. It is terribly important to stay calm, remain polite and courteous. Keep your answers short and you do not have to answer specific questions that might hurt your case. You can simply reply; “I’d rather not say” to questions that will implicate you for drinking and/or lying about drinking.

Regardless of your answers, a police officer that suspects alcohol will ask you to engage in field sobriety tests and possibly a breathalyzer. It is always best to review your state’s specific laws and guidelines concerning DUI investigations. In general, you are under no legal obligation to participate in field sobriety tests. They are subjective and a method for the officer to collect evidence. Most lawyers will also recommend not taking a field breathalyzer and to, instead, take a chemical test at the police station if required. Much controversy surrounds the validity and accuracy of breathalyzers and, again, results can be used in court.

If you are escorted to the police station, cooperate and take mental notes. After you leave, it is a good idea to write down everything you remember so you can share with an attorney and build an accurate defense. The events leading up to and during the arrest will be used in court. States laws are different, but most can be rather harsh with long driver’s license suspensions and extensive fines. A conviction can become part of your record and have lasting effects on your life.

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