A little bit of awareness has gone a long way and more and more often people are choosing alternative means of getting home then to drive after throwing back a few drinks.  As a matter of fact many chronic drinkers have found that it is best that they simply don’t maintain a driver’s license anymore simply because they can’t afford another DUI charge.

Not only have the laws become more restrictive even for first time offenders but many public awareness groups have placed a large number of dollars into raising public awareness not only of adults in each community but of the children, especially high school age teens.  This increased awareness comes from community outreach programs in which those affected by drinking and driving speak out about the devestating ways in which it can change a person’s life forever.  Those who have been affected both by being the drunk driver and those who have lost loved ones to a drunk driver.  These groups even bring twisted and mangled vehicles out in front school buildings to show how badly a vehicle might look after a drunk driving incident.

These two in conjunction with one another are actually having an incredible impact on the number of DUI arrests and convictions and the numbers are continuing to decline as compared to years past.  No one can really be sure if it is education or the fear of punishment that is having the greatest affect on reducing these numbers but no matter what the reasoning behind it studies show the number of DUIs is declining across all regions and demographics.

If you get picked up for driving under the influence, even if it is a first offense you can do jail time in addition to having to pay some heafty fines, have a suspension of your drivers license, and many hours of community service.  They will also likely make you attend some sort of class in order to help you to clean up and get sober.

Stiff penalties and solid public education working together have helped to reduce the number or drunk driving incidents in the United States today.   Stay sober or get a ride but don’t drive after you have been drinking.  It is not worth the penalties that you will incur and it is definitely not worth taking your life or the life of another person who just happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

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DUI is an offense that you most definitely will want to avoid at all costs.  When it comes to drinking and driving there are several things that you need to do to ensure that you don’t get pulled over for this type of offense.

The best way to avoid getting a DUI arrest is not to drive at all if you have been drinking.  In order to best accomplish this you will need to make sure that you plan ahead if you even think that you might be drinking.  One of the best and most proactive things that people are doing to help keep them off the road when they have been drinking is to assign a designated driver.  This type of pre-planning assigns one person to be the non-drinker of the evening and helps to ensure that everyone has a good time and still gets home safely and without being hauled off to jail.  There is nothing worse then having a nice evening spent with friends end with you or a dear friend being arrested.  And if you think that is a bad end to your evening just imagine if that person killed themselves or someone else.

All in all, programs such as SADD and MADD have gone a long way in making people think before they drink.  The simple act of assigning a designated driver for the evening can really help to protect everyone.  Most groups will even take turns being the designated driver each time so that no one winds up being the sober one all the time.  This allows everyone to enjoy themselves knowing that when they get to last call they will have a safe and sober ride home.

A designated driver is not just for those who are gathering together in groups.  Even if you are going out by yourself to the local bar for a few drinks, you can still arrange to have a designated driver.  Just ask a friend to drop you off and keep the number of a local taxi service in your pocket.  Either that or just plan to stay right nearby to where you will be drinking and walk back from your night out on the town.  Staying safe and keeping others safe should be your primary goal.  These days there is no free ride and if you are arrested for a DUI and even just a hair over the legal limit you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  All it takes to avoid this is to establish a sober ride home for yourself before you put that first drink to your lips.

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Most people think that if they get caught driving under the influence that they will wind up getting off easy for a first time offense.  These days, however, part of the reason why the instances of drinking and driving have so significantly declined is likely because of the no tolerance attitude of the constituents in most states and even local jurisdictions.  There is just about nowhere in the world where drinking and driving first time offenses are overlooked anymore and most carry with them stiff penalties and fines at the very least.

Once you have a record of driving under the influence you will very likely have your driver’s license suspended for a period of time and in most jurisdictions those that are convicted of even a first time DUI offense are required to attend some sort of alcohol education or rehabilitation.  In the past, a first time DUI offense would result in a slap on the wrist which might be as minimal as probation alone or included a fine but that was it.  It wasn’t until several convictions that a person could have to attend a rehab or even worse do hard time.

Tougher laws and some of the awareness groups such as MADD and SADD have helped to bring drinking and driving into the public eye raising awareness and requiring that people take notice and pay attention.  Together it is believed that these two groups are largely responsible for the changes in the DUI laws and the decrease in cases of driving while intoxicated.  Proactive programs in schools and in other public forums along with television advertising have helped to raise conscious awareness and have also aided in helping party goers and bar hopper to choose designated drivers before heading out for a night on the town.

Since driving under the influence takes many lives each year, does damage to personal property, and is considered a public health issue it has required the laws to become tougher in protection of the innocent.  There is no way around it, driving under the influence puts everyone at risk and with the many options that are available as alternatives, there really is no excuse for anyone to be driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  The next time you go out assign a designated driver or plan to take a cab, but don’t get behind the wheel after a night of partying.  It is not worth the risk and the long-term effects on your quality of life.

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One of the latest things that is being done to help prevent people from drinking and driving is to use a breathalyzer in the vehicle that will only allow the vehicle to start if the person blows a low enough alcohol reading.  Of course, this type of device actually poses more questions then the problems that it solves because what will stop another person from blowing into the device for the person who has been drinking? And who’s to say that a person wouldn’t drink after they got the vehicle started.

All in all there are many ways in which people can prevent drinking and driving but there are very few facts to support that these types of vehicles will help to ensure that those repeat offenders won’t have at it once more.  In addition vehicles equipped with this system are so much more costly that it almost seems pointless to use as a deterrent across the board.

Drinking and driving is a serious issue and one that the law is really beginning to crack down.  There is way too much to lose by drinking and driving.  These days the penalties for a DUI range from probation and community service to rehabilitation programs and jail time.  Even with an experienced DUI attorney on a first offense there are no guarantees.  Avoiding this situation all together is really the best way to go to ensure that you maintain your rights to drive and be free.

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There is very little tolerance anymore for those who choose to get behind the wheel of the car when they have been drinking, likely because this is the cause of many accidents and deaths each year.  Killing yourself while behind the wheel is one thing but when it comes to taking innocent lives of those who just happen to have the unfortunate chance of being on the same road as you, well it is for this reason that the courts simply won’t tolerate the ignorance with so many other options at play.

And honestly you may not be the only one who gets in trouble if you are caught driving under the influence and if a bar or a friend knew you were intoxicated and continued to allow you to drink and then drive home, they too may be held partially accountable especially in cases where lives have been taken.  There are no innocent parties to this event any more.

A good attorney can likely help you get a reduced sentence and perhaps even get you off with some community service especially for a first offense DUI.  You will very likely have to attend some classes driving classes, drinking classes, or even an outpatient rehabilitation facility.  But doing all this will seem like a piece of cake as compared to the alternative.

When looking for an attorney be sure to sit down with them and talk to them face to face.  This will help you to get all the information you need to choose an attorney that is right for you.  And be sure to avoid trying to get a deal, unless you want to do hard time you are going to have to pay the big bucks for sure.

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DUI’s are very costly and even if you are lucky enough not to cause harm to yourself or anyone else there are still very high prices to pay for getting caught driving under the influence.  To begin with most people don’t think that the penalties will be stiff especially if they have not been in trouble with the law before and have never had a DUI or DWI but this could not be further from the truth.  These days the law is coming down hard on those who choose to drink and drive and even if it is your very first offense you could still face jail time depending on where you live.

Many people think that they can handle their first offense by themselves in court but it is imperative that you hire an attorney to represent you.  And not just any attorney, you must make sure that you select someone who is well versed at the DUI laws in your state as well as the ins and outs of your local court system.  While an attorney most likely won’t be able to get you off completely for the offense they may be able to get you leniency by asking for probation or community service.

Driving under the influence charges can vary greatly and rely not only on the community in which you live in but also in the amount of alcohol in your blood at the time you are pulled over as well as any damages that were caused by this irresponsible act.  DUI punishments can and do sometimes include stints in rehabilitation centers, jail time, and even house arrest.

Getting a DUI is serious business and should not be taken lightly.  If you or someone you know is being charged with a DUI it is important to get all the facts and to hire an attorney to help get you the fairest treatment allowed by law.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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