Archive for June, 2009

You can lose your driving license when you drive after being drunk. Most of the US states have quite a tough DWI laws and the law enforcement officials do not compromise on it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost all drivers are substantially impaired at 0.08 Blood Alcohol Concentration level.

Vehicle Registration

To save your driving license, it is of paramount importance that your vehicle registration is current. If that is not the case, law enforcement officials have every right to suspend your driving license.

Going Through Tests

When driving after being drunk, you may have to go through various tests conducted by law enforcement officials. These tests will be used as evidence against you in the court. Taking into account the importance of these tests, it is advisable that you take these tests in the presence of your attorney.

Application Procedure

When you are booked for DWI, first thing that you need to do is to file an application in the court with regard to your driving license. In some US states, you need to submit an application for driving license suspension almost immediately. If you do not follow this, you can lose your driving license. By taking the services of experienced and highly qualified attorney, you can get rid of this situation. As DWI laws vary from one state to another, only take the services of an attorney which has a comprehensive knowledge of all the state regulations. Application procedure is relatively easy especially if you manage to find a right kind of attorney.

Friends and Family Members

When you are drunk and cannot drive properly, it is advisable that you ask your friends and family members for a lift. By doing this, you can not only save your driving license but more importantly get rid of any accident possibility.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offenses and consequent arrests happen almost every day. Most of the convicts are repeat offenders. Days have changed and increased regulations aim at stopping the recurrence of drinking and driving right in the beginning by imposing severe punishments even for first time offenders. Imagine the state of repeat offenders; it will be all the more worse. Thanks to organizations like MADD which has helped in passing number of DWI regulations.

Regulations under DWI Law

• The legal drinking age is 21 years in all states
• In order to prohibit underage drinking habits Zero Tolerance Test is practiced across all states in the country. Under this law drivers below the legal drinking age having any amount of alcohol content in their body are subjected to strict legal action.
• The legal Blood Alcohol Content level or the BAC is fixed at .08 in all states.
• Arresting officers are allowed to take away the license where the person refuses to take the spot breath test. This is called the Administrative License Revocation or the ALR, this regulation has been adopted by almost 2/3rds of the states in the US.
• Increased penalties for repeat offenders involved in drinking and driving.
• Huge fines and lengthier license suspensions have become the order of the day.
• Repeat DWI convictions are subjected to mandatory jail term by state legislations.
• Obtaining a ‘Hardship’ license has become a herculean task.

Consequences and Penalties of DWI Laws

• Strict punishments even for first time offenders, like suspension of license and 48 hrs in jail.
• Penalties imposed are as stated in the law and not as per discretion, hence hiring an attorney may not really help.
• Getting back license requires compulsory attendance of DWI programs and assessment tests, which requires more of participation than mere attendance.
• Where an individual has a repeat DWI offense of more than twice, it is considered a felony under Habitual Visitors Law, leading to loss of civil rights like voting, owning a weapon and holding a valid driving license.
• An assessment interview is a compulsory requirement under the law. It helps in deciding the extent of one’s drinking problems and the steps to be taken before reinstating license.

Assessment of Drinking Patterns

• A DWI offender is subject to Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) or counseling program or medical treatment depending upon by the certified counselor under whose discretion the offender can regain his privileges.
• All cost to attend these programs, together with penalties, fines and probation fee is borne by the DWI offender. It becomes more expensive if it is a second or third offence
• It is even worse in states which require the driver to take additional insurance coverage before giving back the driving privileges. It really costs you a lot of money.

Making the drivers feel more responsible

Not just paying damages or facing monetary implications, those drivers whose drunken driving has caused the unforeseen happenings are made to sit face to face with the victims of such drunken driving accidents, made to hear their painful stories and their life after and the impact such irresponsible drinking habits have caused.

Do you have a real life experience to share? If yes, don’t hesitate to share it with other fellow readers.

- Drive Safely & Smartly….Life is too precious!!

More and more young adults are going for drinking these days. Find below some of the reasons that are responsible for juvenile drinking habits.

• Organizing parties in places where they can easily try out different things especially drinking. With no adults around, there is no one controlling them.
• Juvenile drinking is prevalent in those families where parent teenager relationships are not up to the mark.
• Parents that do not spend much time in their home because of busy schedule and work commitment will find that their children are into drinking. As a parent, you need to ensure that you keep a keen eye on the drinking habits of your children.

• Parents need to ensure that they set a good example in front of their children. It includes not drinking in front of them and giving them support on every front. Do not impose any unnecessary restrictions on your children because it can have a negative impact on their overall growth.
• Young adults often go into drinking habit because there is too much pressure on them with regard to studies. Make sure that you give your children a reassurance that there is no real pressure on them and what you are looking for is just commitment and effort on their part.
• As more licensed locations for alcohol consumption comes into fray, there is going to be significant reduction in underage drinking.
• Underage drinking is increasing because of the fact that there are not many legal laws pertaining to legal drinking age.
• There is not much awareness in the society with regard to drawbacks of alcoholic drinks to individual under the age of 18.