Archive for February, 2010

Holidays are a nightmare for traffic handlers as this the time when most accidents related to drunk driving occurs. It is a fact that most individuals feel compelled to increase their alcohol intake during holidays and then unfortunately think that they will have the same responsiveness as when they are sober.

It is also a fact that during holidays, alcohol-manufacturing companies increase their ads to lure drinkers to increase their intake in order to boost their profits. This advertising is done both directly and subliminally and it is the drivers who are left holding the stick at the wrong end of the law.

Holiday Drunk Driving and Young Drivers

Statistics show that young drivers between the ages of 21 to 34 accounts for most of the alcohol related accidents and road deaths during holidays. The same study shows that of all arrested DUI offenders, this age group pool possess the highest blood alcohol content levels and this same group are most unlikely to change their drinking habits during holiday periods.

Many cops will tell you that young drivers are some of the most inexperienced individuals behind the wheel of a car. They are unable to negotiate difficult or unsuspecting traffic maneuvers and are the most likely to cause traffic accidents. This fact coupled with the loss of coordination caused from alcohol consumption is like a time bomb waiting to explode.

Peak Holiday Drunk Driving Crashes

Most individuals would think that New Year’s Eve would have the highest levels of drunk driving crashes. This is due to the high consumption of Champaign and other beverages. However, to the surprise of many, New Year’s is a distant second to thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a time of family togetherness where families come together to celebrate the year’s successes and just share time with each other. During this time, there is extensive alcohol consumption that leaves individuals usually spent by the end of the day. Most family members will visit from locations all over the country and then must leave by the end of the day to prepare for regular events the following day. During their travel back home, they are then left at the mercy of fate. Unfortunately, many do not make it, as they are unable to negotiate their way back home and end up included in the statistics of holiday drink driving crashes.

Alaska the Queen of Holiday Drunk Driving Crashes

A little known fact is that Alaska has the highest rate of holiday drunk driving fatal crashes in the US. Many theories have been put forward as to why this is so, but just as the reasons are many, the same is the amount of rebuttals.

However, one of the strongest suggestions is that these holiday crashes are related to the extended cold seasons that exist in the state. This extended cold season results in individuals consuming more alcohol in an effort to keep their internals warm. This high alcohol consumption coupled with the icy road conditions make controlling a vehicle almost impossible. This then leads to severe traffic accidents that unfortunately are often fatal.

How does R-U-Buzzed Works

R-U-Buzzed is the brainchild of the Colorado Department of transportation. This brilliant idea was born out of a need to bring down the spate of road fatalities because of drunk driving. R-U-Buzzed is available from your Apps store free of cost for users of the iPhone to download it to their iPhone.

R-U-Buzzed does not give a scientific evaluation of you blood alcohol content level, but uses general information created from various accident records, medical advice and plain ingenuity to come up with an average blood alcohol content. The intention of the program is only to act as a guide for drinkers and in the end save lives.

Is R-U-Buzzed Worth it?

When the Colorado Department of Transport met for their regular meetings to devise ways of reducing road fatalities due to alcohol consumption, they decided to develop something that can connect with the new generation of drivers who were now making up the bulk of road fatalities. They contacted a marketing company who helped them to come up with the idea of R-U-Buzzed. They quickly dispatched the $8000 needed to develop the program. Since its launch on the Apps store, the application has been downloaded over 40,000 times with a spike around public holidays. Since then they have added updates that calls a cab for drunken patrons and utilize the GPS application of the iPhone to indicate their location to the cab service. As a result, the Road traffic department has been tapping itself on its back for the success of the application. It however must be noted that all users of the application must agree to a disclaimer that the results are not scientifically proven.

R-U-Buzzed Critics

Several skeptics and critics of the application have raised concern about abuse of the R-U-Buzzed application. They base their concern on stories of teens constantly drinking and testing to find their drinking limit. Owing to the fact that the findings are not scientifically supported this can be dangerous. In addition, the application only displays information based on what is imputed. Therefore, this exposes it to those who want to fool themselves about their condition.

A California DWI charge can destroy your life. If you have been arrested for DWI, you need to have a proper understanding of the California criminal court system or you may not be able to protect your driving license. One of the best things you can do is hire an experienced California DWI attorney.

Two Separate Cases

A California DWI arrest leads to two separate cases, one at the Department of Motor Vehicles and another in court. Both these cases are quite serious, especially the one at the Department of Motor Vehicles as it is very deadline oriented. If you are accused of drunk driving in California, you have just ten days from the date of your DWI arrest to request a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing. Your driving license is going to be suspended automatically if you do not request a hearing within ten days of your arrest.

The criminal case filed against you consists of two different statutes. The first one is the California Vehicle Code Section 23152 (a), proof of whether you were under the influence of enough alcohol to affect your driving skills. The second one is the Vehicle Code Section 23152 (b) where all the focus is on setting punishments and penalties.

Penalties and Punishments

Any penalties and punishment given by the California court in a DWI case are different from the repercussions possible at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Each time you are caught DWI, you risk having your license suspended for a longer period of time. The first offense means a suspension of four months; the second offense means a suspension of one year and the third offense for two years or more.

Even those who are licensed in other states and are arrested for DWI in the state of California can request a Department of Motor Vehicles hearing to protect their driving license. California is one of 45 states that are actively involved in the Interstate Driver’s License Compact. According to Interstate Driver’s License Compact, states can share details about DWI convictions and driver’s license actions with each other.

Felony DWI Charges

A number of drivers face felony DWI charges after being arrested for drunk driving in California. If you have three prior drunk driving convictions within the last five to six years, you will be charged with a felony after being arrested for the fourth time. Felony charges are also applicable to those individuals that cause injury to another individual regardless of whether it is your first offense or another. A DWI with an injury is commonly known as a wobbler offense in California.

According to California DWI laws, there is a washout period of ten years. This washout period is calculated from your first arrest date to your last arrest date. The penalties in California court for a second or third drunk driving conviction are much stricter in comparison to a first offense.