1. Coffee will sober you up.

Coffee does not sober you up. Time sobers you up. Alcohol will leave your body at a rate of about .015 percent of blood alcohol content (BAC) per hour. This is the thing that will sober you up.

2. You should admire people who can “hold their liquor.”

People who can drink a lot without getting drunk may have developed a tolerance for alcohol which may be a sign of dependency.

3. Being drunk and alcoholism are synonymous

. Lots of people who are not alcoholics get drunk sometimes. But if they do not have an addiction, they are not alcoholics. Intoxication is not a good thing and should be avoided. It is better to either not drink or to drink lightly.

4. Drinking is the cause of alcoholism

If alcohol was the cause of alcoholism, anyone who took a drink would be an alcoholic. Some say that you are born an alcoholic and this trait will manifest its self in some other behavior, even if you never drink.

5. There is a worm in tequila bottles

There is no worm in bottles of tequila. The drink is made from a type of plant. It’s not really a worm in the bottle, it’s a butterfly caterpillar. Some people swallow the caterpillar when they finish the bottle. Don’t worry your stomach acid will dissolve the caterpillar and you will not belch a butterfly.

6. Drinking Old English 800 makes your breath stank

If your breath stinks, it’s not the malt liquor. It’s your lack of oral hygiene that causes your breath to stink. Try a breath mint every now and then and mix in some floss if you are averse to toothbrushes.

7. Women look better when you are drunk

This is a popular myth. It is not the woman that is looking better; it’s your judgment that is impaired and your standards that are lowered by the end of the night. It is also a sign that you should not be behind the wheel because by morning you will get a rude awakening one way or another!

8. I drive better after a few drinks

You may feel like you are driving like Jeff Gordon and you may make it home most of the time, but the reality here is just as in number seven above. It is your perception that is impaired. You may think you are driving like a NASCAR champ but remember you drive between the lines not down the middle.

9. There is a way to beat the breathalyzer test

To date, no one has discovered way to beat the breathalyzer test. If you get pulled over and blow above the legal limit, you’re going to jail you will not pass go or collect two hundred dollars. And that is if you are lucky! You could end up with your car wrapped around a telephone pole or kill some innocent family.

10. If you are drunk and there is an accident the drunk driver is usually not hurt

Come on! Put it this way: someone reading this article will be dead because of drunk driving by the end of the year, statics prove this. It doesn’t matter whether you are the drunk driver or the passenger, everyone suffers! So seriously, don’t get behind the wheel after drinking.

Being involved in a DWI in South Carolina can lead to dangerous accidents. When arrested, you need to take the charges serious as a DWI in your driving record can have long lasting consequences. As the South Carolina DWI laws are quite complicated, getting out of one is quite difficult. A South Carolina DWI attorney can help reduce your penalties as he is competent in the field of DWI laws of South Carolina.

Hiring an experienced South Carolina DWI Defense Attorney

When charged with a South Carolina DWI offense, you need to find out about the options you have to get out of the mess. One of the best options that you have is to do some research and hire a capable DWI Defense Attorney. The next thing you need to do is to collect all the necessary information required for the case like:

• Your complete criminal history, if any, including prior DWI convictions
• Probation you have received from earlier DWI charges along with the necessary documents which indicate that you have been abiding by the rules and conditions of the probation
• Your driving history which is available on the driver record abstract from the South Carolina DMV
• Your employment and family history

A DWI in South Carolina results in two legal actions. The first is the criminal court case with penalties like jail time, fines, probation and license suspension. The second is through the Department of Motor Vehicles of South Carolina, an administrative procedure where your driving license will automatically be suspended. To avoid this you need have a capable DWI attorney by your side to handle your case effectively and to request a hearing so your license is restored.

How a South Carolina DWI Defense Attorney can help?

Finding a reliable and experienced South Carolina DWI defense attorney is quite challenging. You need to collect the following credibility information:

• Adequate experience and a record of fighting and winning DWI cases successfully
• The lawyer is able to spend enough time on your case by listening to you and answering your questions
• Ensure they are aware of the various laws and penalties involved in different forms of DWI in the area

With the help of an experienced DWI defense attorney, you can either get your case dismissed or avoid a guilty verdict. You can put forth your facts and might get reduction in penalties. There are many South Carolina DWI defense attorneys who offer free legal consultation so you get an idea of how to take the case forward.

Getting your driving privilege back after a DWI

Though the first offense carries lighter consequences like a possible jail sentence plus a six-month license suspension, it can still affect your ability to drive. In order to get a restricted license to drive to work, you must enrol in an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program with the assistance of an attorney. To get your license reinstated after your suspension period, you need to also purchase special SR-22 insurance for three years at a cost of $3,000 to $4,000 per year. When convicted for DWI, it can affect your employment, scholarships, athletic eligibility and other facets of your life. The consequences are even more severe for subsequent offenses.

When arrested for DWI conviction, your license will be suspended. You can get your driving privilege back if you request an administrative hearing within 30 days of your arrest. If you win the case, your license is restored. Whereas if you lose it, you can still get a restricted license.     ]]> http://www.aboutdwi.com/blog/south-carolina-dwi/feed/ 0 http://www.aboutdwi.com/blog/ignition-lock/ http://www.aboutdwi.com/blog/ignition-lock/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:00:39 +0000 Chris M. Alexander http://www.aboutdwi.com/blog/?p=617

In the wake of realizing the serious consequences of drunken driving offences, several measures are being taken both the government and private agencies to curb the incidence of drinking and driving accidents. One such measure is the introduction of Ignition Locks in vehicles that will not allow the vehicle to start where the driver tests alcohol in his breathe.

Ignition Locks Mandate for First Time DWI Offenders

Have you ever been convicted under a DWI charge? There are 8 states in the nation that have mandated the fixing of ignition locks in the vehicles of those who have been convicted under DWI charge even once. Usage of ignition locking devices is seen more as a preventive measure than a penalty imposition.


By mandating the fixing of Ignition locks in the vehicles, it amounts to the cars preventing the driver from driving it when he/she is under the influence of alcohol. States namely Nebraska, Illinois, Alaska, Washington and Colorado have joined the bandwagon of mandating Ignition locking devices in the vehicles of those who have been convicted under the DWI legalities even once. Arizona, Louisiana and New Mexico are the first three states to introduce this mandate, out of which New Mexico is the first state to introduce this rule in early 2005. With the current count of states mandating ignition locks increasing to 8, even first time offenders are required to fix an ignition locking device in their vehicle in these 8 states.


A few organizations especially the liquor industry has expressed its opposition to the introduction of mandatory ignition locks in the vehicles. According to the American Beverage Institute (ABI), inspite of their support to the usage of ignition devices for repeat offenders, first time offender rule was not in consensus with them. According to Sarah Longwell of ABI the freedom of having a sip of wine or champagne at a party or wedding is being greatly restricted because of this rule.

Reduced DWI Fatal Accidents

Considering the fact that ignition interlock devices are rarely prescribed by the law, many organizations especially MADD have been demanding for introducing ignition locks even for the first time offenders and have so far been successful in 8 states across the nation.


The state of South Carolina has introduced mandate of ignition lock devices for repeat DWI offenders. It is the only state in the nation that has introduced the mandate for repeat offenders.


Ignition Lock Devices have been successful in reducing the chances of fatal DWI accidents thereby curbing the bane of drunken driving right at its inception. There is a 20% drop in the number of DWI deaths in the country with the help of ignition lock devices.


Sometimes we are left with limited options to curb the growing menace of DWI accidents and ignition lock devices is one such effective instrument to stop drunken driving accidents right in the beginning. If you disagree with this view point write to us with reasoning.     ]]> http://www.aboutdwi.com/blog/ignition-lock/feed/ 4