Why You Should Not Mix Drinking And Driving

Ever since the invention of the automobile people have been drinking and driving. There are many people that think they can drive if they have only had a couple drinks but this is far from the truth. There is never an excuse for drinking and driving, no matter how little you had to drink.

When you take the risk and drive will drinking there are many things that may go wrong. You could end up spending the night in jail and having to pay a large fine for a DUI if you are caught driving drunk. Not to mention all of the people you are putting in danger. A DUI is the best case scenario because you could end up taking someone’s life.

You run the risk of losing a lot when you are drunk and driving. If you drive after you have been drinking you take the risk of killing yourself or someone else. You will go to jail if you wreck and the result is someone’s death. You absolutely can and more than likely will be arrested and charged with the crime of man slaughter if you kill someone will driving drunk.

Most people would have a hard time living with the fact that their bad choice caused someone to die. Of course going out and having a few drinks is perfectly fine as long as you do not drive after you drink. If you are planning to have a drink make sure you plan on a safe way to get home like a friend or taxi.

There is never a reason to drink and drive when a cab can get you there safely for only a few bucks. The few dollars you pay the cab driver to take you home could save someone’s life and it may even be yours. Never think that you can drive because you have only had one or two drinks. Many people have said that they can drive as well or better when they have been drinking but this is never true.

There is no one who can drive better while being drunk. When you and your friends go out drinking, be the responsible adult and suggest everyone take a taxi cab home. When leaving after a night out drinking ask the smart question of “what is the number for the cab”? Never ask who is sober enough to drive us home.

When you have had a couple or drinks you may not make the most rational decisions. This is why planning ahead is so important. If you plan for a cab to drive you to the club or bar then you will more than likely be taking a cab home. Ask a friend to drop you off if you plan to drink this way your car will not even be there for you to drive. This country also has a problem with teenagers driving drunk.

Set a good example for your teens and talk to them about drinking and driving. Make sure they know that drinking is harmful and that driving drunk could ruin their lives or get them killed. Too many teens have lost their lives due to drunk driving.

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Understanding A DUI

Nowadays practically everybody knows someone who has already been arrested at least once for a DUI offense. Although it is so common, it is surprising that this phrase is often misunderstood and people can’t really say for sure just what DUI is.

The abbreviation DUI stands for “Driving Under the Influence.” More commonly, people refer to it as drunk driving. However, that is not necessarily an appropriate meaning because a DUI does not simply refer to alcohol which drunk driving implies. A DUI can actually refer to alcohol, but also other drugs legal and illicit. Additionally, people may thing that you can only get a DUI while driving a car, but that is not true. In fact, a DUI can be given for those driving cars, motorcycles, boats, trucks, and even planes.

DUI’s are treated as a criminal offense, which increases the severity of the consequences. The primary reason for this is that when you get your driver’s license, you have to pass a written test where you display your knowledge of what driving under the influence can bring about. Additionally, when you are caught for a DUI, you are not simply putting yourself at risk, but you are actually putting everyone else on the road at significant risk.

Typically, a DUI is determined by your Blood Alcohol Content or BAC. However, that is not the only way that you can be convicted of a DUI. The legal limits vary from state to state so you need to be sure that you are aware of what your local limits are.

It is also important to keep in mind that you can be convicted of a DUI for being under the influence of drugs as well as alcohol. Basically, anything that impairs you should keep you from driving. There are even prescription drugs that state you should not operate any machinery while taking them and if you still decide to drive a vehicle then you are putting yourself and others at risk.

There are also some strange ways to get a DUI and in some cases you will be surprised that such an offense can come from the use of a supposedly harmless product. Good examples of this are cough syrups and cold medicines. However, it is logical if you think about it since they do have alcohol as an ingredient and if you take too much then it is possible for your BAC to be above the legal limit.

Once you have been arrested for a DUI, you have a variety of consequences that you could be facing. Again, as each state has different rules you cannot expect the same consequences from state to state. However, some of the most common punishments include fines, license suspensions and restrictions, probation, and even jail time.

If you are arrested and charged with DUI then also expect a nasty surprise from your vehicle insurance company. This is because by a conviction you are required to file a SR-22 and once that is done then your insurance company can actually choose to drop you. You are also immediately after filing that form harder to insure and seen as more of a risk than others. That in turn leads to higher premiums or possibly even higher deductibles.

This information is provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

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When Truckers Are Under The Influence

It is bad enough to drive a car or any other kind of vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but it is even worse to do so and drive a commercial vehicle. Especially truck drivers should keep this in mind, because it is obvious just how large a commercial semi-truck is when compared to the average car. The nickname of “kings of the road” is quite suitable.

When you drink or drive it affects your reflexes making it extremely dangerous since a semi truck takes much longer to come to a stop when braking making it imperative for the driver to have unaffected reflexes. It is sad and upsetting to even think about the consequences of a loaded semi “bumping” into a car much less slamming into a car.

To compensate for the differences like size and ease of vehicle control, a truck driver is legally impaired with a lower BAC than a driver of a regular car would be allowed to have by law. Presently, the federal law prohibits truck drivers from operating their commercial vehicle if they have a 0.04% BAC or more. Reducing the BAC for truck drivers has had positive results and has lowered the number of accidents with trucks over the last few years.

However, drugs like marijuana or stimulants can also cause impairments and this is a problem since many truck drivers believe that these are helpful in keeping them awake when driving long routes. It is a fact that many truck drivers are forced to drive until they have pushed their own limits in order to keep impossible deadlines or even their job, but that has caused the drivers of commercial vehicles to also turn to drugs like meth which are easily purchased at just about every truck stop along the way. It is not easy to determine who is at fault, the truck driver or the company pushing them, but one this is for sure and that is that the polices are in dire need of reviewing.

One helpful policy is when truckers receive a commercial drivers license a stipulation is that they must consent to random drug testing no matter what they are doing at the time. If they are summoned to the supervisor’s office they must report there. They face termination or fines from the company should they refuse or not show up as there are no grounds to refuse.

It’s a very serious situation that needs to be looked into. It is much more serious than regular DWI, simply because more lives are at stake. When you’re on the road next to a semi, you want to know that you’re safe and that the driver of that monster isn’t currently having flashbacks to some war just because of something that he took to stay awake.

If you happen to be a truck driver, then always keep in mind that safety comes first. Always ensure that you get enough sleep and don’t give in to any temptations along the way. Many lives are at stake when driving a truck and it is part of your job to make sure that others are safe from you.

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Drive While Intoxicated

It is an all too common scenario. You and co-workers stop after work for a get together and have a couple drinks, and even though you do not feel impaired when leaving you find yourself being pulled over and charged with DWI ( Driving While Intoxicated). State laws have, with pressure from groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), tightened up on the law for DWI offenders with an additional boost to the revenue.

Since drunk drivers cause more of the fatal accidents that happen, states don’t bother to differentiate in their treatment of those who occasionally drink after work and those who are alcoholics and drink a 12-pack every day after work. Regardless of which category you fall into, you will have to pay for an attorney, the same fees, penalties, fines and jail times. This is especially true for first time offenders.

Bar owners saw their business almost disintegrate when most states lowered the BAC or blood alcohol content to .08. This is the equivalent of two beers in one hour or less for most people. Legal fees can cost quite a bit and that doesn’t count mandatory SATOP classes, which can run a couple hundred and then there are mandatory administrative suspensions of your license for thirty days or more, BEFORE you ever go to court and are found guilty.

Penalties for alcohol are higher, even though it is sold legally, than some charges for marijuana use or possession and the cost for your defense higher. It is the same for the person who only stops for a drink or two twice a year.

The next charge that comes into play is DUI (Driving Under the Influence). This comes into play when it is obvious to the police that you have had a drink, but failed to test out at .08. Just one sip of alcohol can accomplish this because of the odor. Thus all the same expenses occur, just the same ones that would the habitual drinker.

These new, stricter “drunk” driving laws discourage you from having a drink with dinner or visiting a bar for a birthday party or anything else. The risk of getting caught is what makes some people only drink at home and withdraw from any social setting where they might want to have a drink or two as a social occasion.

Somebody would need to take them home and not partake in any festivities, so most drinkers don’t want to pressure their friends into NOT drinking at a friend’s birthday or bachelorette party, because it doesn’t seem fair, so they don’t go. If you are a drinker, this is something you need to accept with the DWI laws that exist.

Chances are if you are reading this, you have reason to be concerned because you have either gotten a DWI or a DUI. The best advice is to be prepared to be out a lots of money, even if you haven’t been found guilty, and the mandatory suspension has nothing to do with winning the court case. Most states immediately suspend your license for a minimum of thirty days, whether you are guilty or not. A good lawyer may be able to get you a hardship license and keep you from serving a jail sentence, paying a large fine and losing your license for a year.

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