• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
Driving Drunk: What are the Consequences?

Driving Drunk: What are the Consequences?

July 10, 2022
Dangers of Scooters On the Road

Dangers of Scooters On the Road

March 28, 2023
The Impact of Sports on Personal Growth and Development

The Impact of Sports on Personal Growth and Development

March 25, 2023
Why Crazy Time Results are the Ultimate Test of Luck and Strategy

Why Crazy Time Results are the Ultimate Test of Luck and Strategy

March 27, 2023
Why We Can’t Ban Our Way Out of the Plastics Problem

Why We Can’t Ban Our Way Out of the Plastics Problem

March 25, 2023
Elevate Your Video Production in San Francisco with Argus HD

Elevate Your Video Production in San Francisco with Argus HD

March 23, 2023
Wanting To Plan A Wedding in 2023?

Wanting To Plan A Wedding in 2023?

March 23, 2023
Examining Messi’s Role in Barcelona’s European Success

Examining Messi’s Role in Barcelona’s European Success

March 23, 2023
How to make hydrogen-infused water at home: DIY recipes and methods

How to make hydrogen-infused water at home: DIY recipes and methods

March 22, 2023
Medical Product Design: Revolutionising the Healthcare Industry

Medical Product Design: Revolutionising the Healthcare Industry

March 22, 2023
Why Is Investing in Property in Inner West Sydney a Smart Choice?

Why Is Investing in Property in Inner West Sydney a Smart Choice?

March 22, 2023
What to Know about Wall-Mounted AC

What to Know about Wall-Mounted AC

March 22, 2023
Ergonomics In The Boardroom: How The Right Chair Can Boost Employee Health And Wellness

Ergonomics In The Boardroom: How The Right Chair Can Boost Employee Health And Wellness

March 22, 2023
Visitmagazines
  • Home
  • Business
  • News
    Elevate Your Video Production in San Francisco with Argus HD

    Elevate Your Video Production in San Francisco with Argus HD

    The fonts for the advertising

    The fonts for the advertising

    8 Advantages Of Insulated Lunch Bags

    8 Advantages Of Insulated Lunch Bags

    Ordering Pet Food and Supplements Online: Convenience and Safety

    Ordering Pet Food and Supplements Online: Convenience and Safety

    How OpenTelemetry Works Under the Hood in JavaScript

    How OpenTelemetry Works Under the Hood in JavaScript

    4 advantages of compostable bags over traditional plastics

    4 advantages of compostable bags over traditional plastics

    Kitchen knives and their uses

    Kitchen knives and their uses

    Blockchain System of Licenses For Creative Digital Assets

    Blockchain System of Licenses For Creative Digital Assets

    Stay Clear Of These Types Of Buyer Agents. Avoid These Types Of Agents Who Could Infect Your Buying Process.

    Stay Clear Of These Types Of Buyer Agents. Avoid These Types Of Agents Who Could Infect Your Buying Process.

    FondMart Private Label Dropshipper Review

    FondMart Private Label Dropshipper Review

    Trending Tags

  • Entertainment
    The Release Date and Cast of Mahesh Babu’s Upcoming South Indian Film

    The Release Date and Cast of Mahesh Babu’s Upcoming South Indian Film

    The best torrent websites for downloading TV shows

    The best torrent websites for downloading TV shows

    Baroque music – characteristic features of the classical music epoch  

    Baroque music – characteristic features of the classical music epoch  

    5 Swimming Pool Dangers You Didn’t Think About

    5 Swimming Pool Dangers You Didn’t Think About

    Download Latest Movies Free Online From 4movierulz

    Download Latest Movies Free Online From 4movierulz

    Action Games are More than just Games; They Train Your Brain – Find out How

    Action Games are More than just Games; They Train Your Brain – Find out How

    Best Tips To Buy Zorb Ball

    Best Tips To Buy Zorb Ball

    Best Free Movie Streaming Sites

    Best Free Movie Streaming Sites

    CuriosityStream

    CuriosityStream

    How to Spot an Exceptional Employee?

    How to Spot an Exceptional Employee?

  • Technology
  • Legal
    • Law
No Result
View All Result
Visitmagazines
No Result
View All Result
Home Law

Driving Drunk: What are the Consequences?

by Paloma Gonzalo
in Law
0
Driving Drunk: What are the Consequences?
517
SHARES
1.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Drinking and driving don’t mix, but unfortunately, many drivers still do it. 

Drunk driving in America (and in most other jurisdictions around the globe) is a severe crime. It’s also a crime that can have a profound impact on you, your loved ones, and the entire society.  

Just a slight intake of alcohol makes you unsafe for driving and puts your life and the lives of others at risk. All it takes is a slight delay in having the right reaction and this can lead to devastating life-ending and altering consequences. 

Let’s explore more about driving drunk. What are the consequences? We shall also look at drunk driving statistics and terminology. 

The first step you can take is to get an experienced drinking and driving lawyer to guide you through your legal case during the trial

Drunk driving statistics

Every 52 minutes, a person dies due to driving while drunk in America – that’s a shocking 28 people per day. 

This means over 10,000 people lose their lives yearly due to alcohol-related accidents.

Additionally, a third of all accident fatalities happen due to drunk driving. 

Young people (21-24 years) account for around 27% of fatal impaired crashes, closely followed by people aged between 25-34 accounting for 25%.

Understanding drunk driving

Alcohol reduces the brain’s ability to function appropriately, impairing critical reasoning and thinking, and muscle coordination. All these functions enable you to operate a car safely. 

One such incident should not be responsible for labelling you as someone who is irresponsible throughout your life. By working with the best legal experts, you can go for DWI expungement in Missouri. The lawyers can build a strong case, as well as put forth arguments in your favor to help you legally remove any existing DWI records that might harm you later on in life.

As alcohol levels increase in your system, the central nervous system starts having adverse effects since it is absorbed directly through the stomach wall and small intestine. Alcohol then goes into your bloodstream and accumulates there until the liver metabolizes it. 

A driver is  considered impaired when their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is 0.08 or higher and this is measured by a blood test or a breathalyzer test. 

Drunk driving terminology

It’s a criminal offense for anyone, regardless of age, to drive under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances. 

Let’s look at some terminology you may encounter while dealing with a drunk driving incident.

  • “Per Se” DUI or DUI – driving under the influence

Driving under the influence is also known as a “legal limit” or “per se” DUI because the office doesn’t rely on the driver’s traits but rather the BAC level testing results.

If your  level is 0.08 and above, no further evidence is needed to convict you. Beyond performing the tests, the police officers will observe your behavior. 

Keep in mind that even if your BAC is below the legal level, it’s still possible to get convicted of drunk driving. 

  • DWI – Driving while impaired or driving while intoxicated

When driving while intoxicated, the police build the case upon the driver’s behavior, leading to a conviction. The officer looks at whether you are swerving from one lane to another, if they can smell alcohol on you, your speech is slurred, or you have bloodshot eyes.  

Additionally, you may be asked to perform a field sobriety test (FSTs), which includes tests of memory, balance, eye movement, and a Breathalyzer test.

  • OUI – operating under the influence

Regardless of how each jurisdiction treats, defines and categorizes drunk driving, they all mean that you can’t operate a car while intoxicated. 

  • Under 21 “Per Se DUI”

People under 21 years aren’t legally entitled to drink, and as such, if found drunk driving, they face more stiffer consequences. 

Regardless of the state, the BAC threshold is lower than the legal drinking age, but it differs, with most states imposing a BAC concentration of 0.00%-0.02% for any driver below 21.

  • Commercial “Per Se DUI”

Commercial or professional drivers under 21 years face stricter standards under their state’s drunk driving laws. Most states impose a BAC threshold of 0.04% for those commercial operating vehicles; furthermore, your commercial drivers license gets revoked if convicted of DUI while operating a non-commercial vehicle. 

  • Aggravated “Per Se DUI”

Most states have stricter laws for drunk driving offenders caught with high BAC levels. These offenders may receive harsher/increased jail time, higher fines, or longer license suspension. However, the level of higher BAC differs from each state, but it ranges from 0.15%-0.25%.

  • Drugged driving

Apart from drunk driving, operating a car under the influence of prescription or recreational drugs is illegal. 

Some states impose a specific level of different medications on a person’s system. Others have adopted zero-tolerance laws that any person who operates with the presence of any illegal drugs can fall under DUI.  

Dangers of drunk driving

Regardless of the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, it can negatively impact your driving ability. Safe driving does require the driver’s ability to make sound judgment, concentrate and react quickly to situations. 

Let’s explore further on why alcohol makes it unsafe to drive.

  • Lack of coordination

Intoxication affects motor skills like foot, hand, and eye coordination. Reduced coordination signs include the inability to stand straight, swaying, and difficulty walking. Additionally, extreme intoxication might prevent someone from entering their vehicle and finding its ignition.

  • Slow reaction time

With alcohol in the blood system, your ability to respond to a situation quickly becomes limited. Drinking affects your ability to respond quickly, thus increasing your chances of causing an accident. 

For example, if you see a pedestrian crossing, your brain may forget to send a signal for emergency braking, thus causing an accident.  

  • Decreased vision

Excessive consumption of alcohol can negatively impact your vision. You may experience  blurred vision or lose the power to control your eye movements. 

Additionally, impaired vision affects your ability to judge the distance between other cars and your car. You may also notice fewer objects in either direction within your peripheral vision. 

  • Reduced concentration 

No matter how little or much alcohol you have consumed, it can influence your driving concentration. 

You may miss speed limit signs, lanes, other traffic signals, cars, and pedestrians that need your undivided attention. With reduced concentration, your chances of causing an accident dramatically increases. 

  • Inhibits judgment

Your brain controls the ways you judge circumstances and the decisions you make, primarily when operating a vehicle. 

For example, when a car cuts in front of you, you need to make the wise decision to let it go to avoid an accident. When sober, your mind easily judges situations and makes a choice that is most beneficial. 

Understanding blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels

A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% and above means that you are legally impaired. However, even at levels below 0.08%, you may still already be intoxicated and with all the attendant dangers that that brings.

Here is the outline of how BAC levels affect your body and driving capabilities. 

  • BAC of 0.02

This level of intoxication slightly increases your body temperature, decreases visual visibility, increases relaxation, changes mood, and causes an inability to multitask. 

  • BAC of 0.05

At level 0.05 of intoxication, a person has exaggerated behaviors, reduced inhibition and judgment. It also reduces the ability to detect any moving objects, response rate, coordination, alertness, and small-muscle control. 

  • BAC of 0.08

At a BAC of 0.08, a person lacks judgment, has reduced muscle coordination, self-control, and power of reasoning. They may also experience short-term memory loss, speed control, and a reduced ability to concentrate and process information. 

  • BAC of 0.10

At this stage, the individual experiences slowed reaction times, slurred speech, poor coordination, and a significantly reduced ability to control a car, keep it within its lane and even brake appropriately. 

  • BAC of 0.15

When your BAC reaches 0.15,  the intoxication level is at a dangerous point. You lose balance, have almost zero muscle control, impaired vision, and vomiting. You will have significantly reduced activity attention and limited auditory information processing ability. 

Any fatal crashes caused by BAC 0.08% and above lead to impaired driving fatalities charges. 

Consequences of drunk driving

The consequences of drunk driving go beyond causing accidents to physical, having criminal records in sites like lookupinmate.org, and property loss, and emotional losses. The physical consequences may include paralysis, brain damage, disfigurement, and even death.

Drunk driving is a criminal offense, and the consequences of drunk driving differ from state to state and case to case. However, even DUI costs within the same state can vary depending on the facts and circumstances. 

Criminal offenses of drunk driving include:

  • Fines

Criminal fines for drunk driving range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the crime. Only an experienced DUI attorney can assist you in this situation.

  • Prison or jail

 A sentence may include incarceration, including first offenses. 

Some states like Tennessee and Arizona give a mandatory but brief jail sentence of 24-48 hours, but it is only for first offenders. This is three days in California. 

While the jail sentence can be short for first time offenders, repeat felony drunk drivers,can mean years in federal-state prison. In case you find yourself facing prison or jail ensure you contact an experienced criminal lawyers to assist with your case. 

  • Driving restrictions

Anyone charged or convicted of drunk driving faces driving license restrictions and penalties. For first-time offenders, the suspension may go for 30-90days. Felony or repeat offenders may face permanent revocation or multi-year suspensions. 

  • Vehicle confiscation 

Many states have confiscation laws ranging from permanent to temporary seizure. For example, in Ohio, after a second DUI, the offender faces vehicle forfeiture. 

  •  Ignition interlock device

 For drunk driving repeat offenders, the law may require you to install an ignition interlock device. This device tests the driver’s BAC level, thus preventing the car from starting if you are intoxicated. 

  • Alcohol treatment and assessment programs

DUI sentences also require convicted drivers to participate in various alcohol treatments and rehabilitation programs. 

  • Probation

Probation is a criminal sentence that allows you to stay out of state prison or jail under restricted liberties. 

Probation limits your freedom. You will be required to obey specific rules like regularly reporting to a probation officer, performing specific community service work/hours, paying probation fees, or participating in various alcohol programs and treatments. 

The probation sentence may range from six months to years, and failing to comply with the given probation terms may result in extended penalties, jail terms, or additional fines. 

DUI offenders may receive a probation sentence on its own, but sometimes it may be in addition to a jail sentence. 

  • Deferred or diversion prosecution

Deferred or diversion prosecutions are similar to prosecution. If an offender gets deferred prosecution, the law requires them to comply with different probation-like terms within a given time, say a year or more. 

After completing the diversion sentence without violating any laws, the prosecutor drops the DUI charges. 

The diversion program has limited positions and is only applicable under limited circumstances, and are different for each state. For example, deferred prosecutions are only offered to first-time offenders with no criminal record in most states.

Other costs of driving drunk

While the above consequences are directly related to the drunk driver, there are many other costs to the society at large. This list is not exhaustive but includes:

  • Medical costs, not just for the drunk driver, but also other members of the public affected by accidents caused. 
  • Emotional and psychological costs
  • Insurance administration
  • Lost productivity
  • Workplace losses
  • Legal expenses 
  • Property damage 

Final thoughts on the the consequences of driving drunk

Drunk driving can prematurely end your life and the lives of innocent members of your community. Additionally, there are a myriad of financial, emotional, physical, legal and societal consequences. 

Don’t cut short your life and the lives of others. If you have had a few drinks, get a taxi or call a friend to drive you. The reward for sober driving is reaching your destination unhurt and alive, with a clear conscience of having done the right thing for yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

Share207Tweet129Share52
Previous Post

TikTok Becomes The Blueprint For Social Media Formats 

Next Post

Productivity Tips For Those Who Are Self Employed

Paloma Gonzalo

Paloma Gonzalo

Next Post
Productivity Tips For Those Who Are Self Employed

Productivity Tips For Those Who Are Self Employed

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
khatrimaza | khatrimazafull| Okhatrimaza is an Indian website – why is it banned?

khatrimaza | khatrimazafull| Okhatrimaza is an Indian website – why is it banned?

March 14, 2022
Get the New Experience of Beer Tasting withWorld of Beer Tampa Bay, Florida

Get the New Experience of Beer Tasting withWorld of Beer Tampa Bay, Florida

October 22, 2022
สูตรแทงบอล SBOBET(SBOBET Football Betting Formula) and Strategy

สูตรแทงบอล SBOBET(SBOBET Football Betting Formula) and Strategy

May 26, 2022
Khatrimaza cool | Khatrimaza full | Khatrimaza pro – Watch the latest videos, photos, and news on Khatrimaza.

Khatrimaza cool | Khatrimaza full | Khatrimaza pro – Watch the latest videos, photos, and news on Khatrimaza.

65
khatrimaza | khatrimazafull| Okhatrimaza is an Indian website – why is it banned?

khatrimaza | khatrimazafull| Okhatrimaza is an Indian website – why is it banned?

24
7starhd win | 7starhd loan | 7starhd fans | 7starhd bv: Download Hindi, Tamil, Bollywood, Hollywood Best Movies for Free & Enjoy the Movies

7starhd win | 7starhd loan | 7starhd fans | 7starhd bv: Download Hindi, Tamil, Bollywood, Hollywood Best Movies for Free & Enjoy the Movies

1
Dangers of Scooters On the Road

Dangers of Scooters On the Road

March 28, 2023
The Impact of Sports on Personal Growth and Development

The Impact of Sports on Personal Growth and Development

March 25, 2023
Why Crazy Time Results are the Ultimate Test of Luck and Strategy

Why Crazy Time Results are the Ultimate Test of Luck and Strategy

March 27, 2023

Visitmagazines.com © Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
  • Entertainment
    • Sports

Visitmagazines.com © Copyright 2023, All Rights Reserved

Cleantalk Pixel