DUI/DWI
All 50 states have enacted strict laws concerning the consumption of alcohol and driving. Referred to in most states as DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) laws, it is considered a criminal offense to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a proscribed level, 0.08 percent. If a driver is stopped because driving behavior is suspect, the consequences, dependent on the level of alcohol present in the blood at the time of the stop, can be severe. Read about the effects of Alcohol at certain Blood Alcohol Concentration Levels.
If you have been charged or arrested and you need help contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you have been arrested for DUI or DWI, the possible consequences are listed below.
- Parole or probation
- Complete loss or temporary suspension of driver’s license
- Loss of auto insurance coverage
- Court ordered drivers school
- Vehicle impound
- Court ordered ignition device
- Heavy fines or penalties
- Other
If you have had any prior or similar convictions or you are currently on probation or parole you will incur the most serious consequences. Your blood alcohol content, whether or not an accident occurred and the unique circumstances of your case will also influence the outcome. Certain communities have developed a hardened attitude toward this crime and thus may invoke even stricter penalties.
It is never acceptable or advisable to operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol. Not only do you put yourself and passengers of your vehicle at risk, but you risk the lives of others. Though the research is performed each year concerning the number of accidents caused by drivers who were DWI or DUI, the goal is to eliminate those accidents by imposing serious enough penalties to prevent as many accidents and deaths as possible.