The Risks and Consequences of Drunk Driving
Posted on 06. Jun, 2011 by Admin in DWI
Drunk drivers are one of the leading causes of premature death in the United States. This is one of the hardest problems for society to resolve. The culprits aren’t hardened criminals, but our nation’s sons, daughters, wives and husbands. While drunken driving rates have declined in recent years, it’s clear that drunk drivers are still a problem.
In California, a staggering 863 out of every 100,000 licensed drivers were arrested for DUI in 2007, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This adds up to almost 200,000 DUI arrests annually in the Golden State alone. Even as DUI punishments stiffen, law enforcement continues making arrests, like clockwork, one Saturday night after another.
Everyone loses when dealing with drunk drivers, not just the drivers themselves. According to a report by the Loyola University Health System, drunk drivers cost society approximately 46 billion dollars annually. The money is lost mainly through decreased productivity and medical costs. The report also indicated that 22% of all crash victims were injured in alcohol-related accidents.
From a legal standpoint, DUI is one of the more complex types of cases. This is because many states have enacted “mandatory minimums” for the crime, even for first offenders. Additionally, DUI punishments can vary depending upon prior convictions and blood alcohol content (BAC).
Depending on whether or not a drunk driver’s BAC was above or below .15, offenders can count on spending one to two days in jail in the state of Washington. This is defined as either 24 or 48 consecutive hours. If an individual were arrested with a BAC of .16 and posted bail 45 hours later, he would serve an additional 48 hours when convicted.
Aside from mandatory incarceration, people convicted of DUI will also face license suspensions, fines, ignition interlock systems, high-risk insurance and restitution. If the driver caused property damage, injury or death, he could also be charged with an array of other serious crimes, such as reckless driving, criminal negligence or vehicular manslaughter.
Unfortunately for those arrested, DUI is quite often an ironclad case for the prosecution. When police pull over a citizen and suspect he is intoxicated, they’ll attempt to administer a BAC test. Since every citizen with a driver’s license has signed an agreement to this, they are obligated to consent to the test. If they don’t, the Department of Motor Vehicles is notified and the individual’s license is suspended, usually for one year. While a BAC test is incredibly helpful for prosecutors, they don’t always need it; when the test is refused the police usually obtain a court order for a blood test.
Whether someone facing charges for drunk driving has a good case or not, he should know that an experienced attorney can greatly impact the case’s outcome. Although DUI carries mandatory minimums, there’s nothing to stop a judge from exceeding them. An attorney will stand in a defendant’s corner and fight, either to get him acquitted or to help him to obtain the lightest sentence possible.
Drunk drivers cost productivity and lives. The problem is huge, comprising hundreds of thousands of arrests each year. DUI cases are quite serious, offering fairly stiff punishments that differ from case to case. Whether innocent or guilty, accused or red-handed, anyone charged with drunk driving should hire legal representation. This will help bring about a quick resolution that’s as favorable as possible.
This article is provided as information only and not intended as legal advice in any means or manner whatsoever, provided by the Law Offices of Michael Lowe.
50 Responses to “The Risks and Consequences of Drunk Driving”
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