Archive for August, 2012

The New DUI Laws – Leading to Warrants for Blood Tests

Posted on Aug 22, 2012

As the instance of driving under influence of alcohol is spurring on the roads of America, driving after drinking laws are gradually becoming tougher. DC officials are of the opinion that with stricter and more stringent rules, a large number of drivers will think twice before sitting at the driving wheel after boozing.

A new DUI law has been passed by the emergency legislation to prevent the large number of road accidents that are purely done by alcohol-induced drivers. Jail time for all drunk drivers who blow between 0.20-0.24 blood-alcohol level will change from 5 days to 10 days and the penalties for the 0.25 BACs will be at least 15 days behind the bars.

All drunken drivers that are carrying minors in their vehicle will face at least 5 days in jail and the maximum fine will boost from $300 to $1000. Maximum DUI jail time will augment from 90-180 days, and this means that a driver who is found guilty may have to remain in jail for 6 months. Apart from this, commercial drivers (that include taxi drivers) will be prosecuted if they’re sitting behind the wheel with anything above 0.04 BAC. Legislators are of the opinion that fresh rules may act as a restraint on irresponsible drivers.

This particular tool is particularly designed to enhance the police to make roads safer and reduce the number of road accidents and large number of auto insurance claims. New laws have also instructed the District Police to start using breathing machines again so as to ensure better safety. The police had totally shut down this program 2 years ago and then recently had to spend around $250,000 to settle around 5 DUI cases that pivoted on faulty breathing results. Above all, the Chief Medical Examiner’s office will soon exercise control on this program in order to make sure that things are running fine.

According to the Tennessee Safety Department, the “no refusal” state law issued warrants for blood samples of 8 drunken drivers who weren’t ready to give a breathing test. A 5-county effort was launched to raise awareness among the motorists about the law. Until June 2012, the drivers could even refuse a blood-sample test but they would have feared losing their license. With the new law, the drunken driver is bound to give the blood-sample test in order to prove himself.

If you drive on the roads of US, you should ensure taking the best step forward so that you don’t meet with accidents and end up with huge amounts on your medical bills. Forget driving after drinking so that you don’t have to be harassed by the police.

Author Bio:
This article has been contributed by Billy Patterson. He is associated with Oak View Law Group as a contributory writer. He has written many articles on DUI law, elder law, bankruptcy law etc.

Drunk Driving – An Offense with a Hefty Price Tag!

Posted on Aug 08, 2012

Did you know that alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes cost more than $37 billion annually? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration quotes this fact. Alcohol is evidently taking a heavy toll from the national exchequer every year, but did you realize how costly drunk driving can be for you as an individual?

If you get caught driving under influence, even without causing any damage to life or property, the cost of drunk driving can amount to quite a hefty sum. Here’s a roundup of how the toll on your wallet adds up.

Bail
If you are arrested for drunk driving, you’ll need to be bailed out too. At a minimum, this would cost you anywhere between $200-250, though the cost may go up as high as above $1000.
Towing the Car
Because you got arrested, you car will get towed away and will also be taken in for storage for a few days. At a minimum, this costs about $100. But if you get caught in a city like Chicago, your bill for just the first 24 hours could be as much as a whopping $1,200!
Drunk Driving Fines
You’ve broken the law and you’ll have to pay a fine. The fines have also gone up dramatically over the years, with some states charging over a grand for the offense. At a minimum, expect to be paying about $400-500.
Attorney’s Fees
If you decide to file a quick guilty plea, the attorney may charge about $250. But if you decide to contest the charges, there is no limit to how much you may end up paying, depending on how many trials you may have and the complexity of your case.
Increased Insurance Costs
If you are caught drunk driving, you cannot escape the keen eye of your insurance agent. Your insurance rates will likely be affected for the next three to five years, with an average hit of about $1500 annually. Multiply by three, and your minimum toll comes to a whopping $4,500 at least!
Alcohol Evaluation Costs
You may be ordered an alcohol evaluation if you are sentenced for drunken driving. This could cost anywhere between $100-250.
Drinking Driver Program
For those who are convicted, an educational and treatment program may be ordained. The price of this varies widely depending on the type of program, but typically a minimum fee of $150 is charged.
License Reinstatement Fees
Needless to say, your license will be confiscated. When you are fit to claim it back after meeting all the required legal conditions, the bill may be anywhere between $100-250.
Miscellaneous Hidden Costs
People have to stay absent from work, get marked for a criminal offense in most states which affects employment prospects, and if their job duty involves driving, they have to take a hit on their income too. These costs vary from person to person.

These are just minimum estimates for some of the costs and penalties involved, and these round up to about $7,000. The New York State Police Department estimates a minimum toll of $8,250 for the offense, while it is believed to be close to $1,200 in the state of Illinois.

Note that these are minimum estimates, and the actual bill will likely be even heftier. This is one costly offense. If nothing else motivates you to go sober, perhaps the incentive of saving a few grands might!

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