Drinking and driving is one of the world’s most dangerous combinations. Some commentators liken drunk driving unto a driving accident just looking for somewhere to occur. As results, administrations of various countries have adapted various measures and rules in an attempt to stem the scourge of drunk driving. Now, these laws are affected by various issues such as culture, religion and the level of drunk driving. As a result, some of the laws adapted will vary from country to another with some even being unbelievable.

United States: The United States have one of the highest rates of drunk driving related accidents and deaths in the world. Each state have their own law based in the severity of the drunk driving cases. However, as a rule, most states will charge a driver once their blood alcohol content exceeds 0.08. Where it becomes unbelievable is when some states reduce this level to 0.05 and even charge drivers for DWI if they are found with open containers in their vehicle. These offenses can lead to jail time, suspension or loss of their license.

Australia:

In Australia, the upper level for blood alcohol content is 0.05. This is reduced to 0.02 for new drivers and individuals who have only a learner’s permit. As usual, punishment for DWI in Australia comes in the form of fines, suspension of license or jail time. When it becomes strange is the law also imposes compulsory medical assessment of drivers before their driver’s license can be reinstated.

In most European countries, drunk driving is punishable by fines, suspension of license or jail time.

France:

In France, DWI offenders get a fine equivalent of $1000, loss or suspension of their license for three years of at least one-year imprisonment.

Norway:

Norway adopts a more stringent approach where drunk drivers are automatically jailed for three weeks at hard labor coupled with a license suspension for one year. If the repeat the offence they repeat the offence, then they lose their license forever.

Russia:

Now many may be surprised that they have laws for DWI in Russia based on Russians long love affair with alcohol. Russia has one of the highest consumption rates of whiskey and vodka worldwide. However, if you are caught driving under the influence of alcohol, you simply lose your driving license for life. Even upon the first offence.

Saudi Arabia:

Other countries have even gone even further in their DWI laws. In Saudi Arabia, DWI offences are punishable by lashes in the public square.
South Africa imposes fine equivalent of $10,000, a ten-year prison sentence or both combined depending on the severity of the case.

Turkey:

In Turkey, DWI offenders are taken twenty miles from their town and then told to walk back while escorted by the police.

El Salvador and Bulgaria:

Countries such as El Salvador and Bulgaria have gone to the extreme in punishing drunk drivers. In El Salvador, first time DWI offenders are carted off and executed by a firing squad. In Bulgaria, at least they are a little more lenient, as DWI offenders are only executed after they have committed their second DWI offence.

California has implemented and formulated certain laws pertaining to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The following information is related to laws and penalties for DWI/DUI in California.

California DWI/DUI Laws

• Any person driving under the influence of alcohol or drug is against the law
• Any person having 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in the blood is not liable to drive
• The state of California forbids driving for any person driving under the influence of any kind of illicit drug or alcohol
• Any person having 0.04% or more by weight of alcohol in the blood cannot drive a commercial vehicle in the state of California

California Secretary of State and Driving Laws

• Section 23152 of CA law says if a person is under the direct or combined influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, they are not permitted to drive in the state.
• If 0.08% of alcohol is found in the blood of a person while doing a chemical test within three hours of driving, that person is not allowed to drive any vehicle
• If a person is participating in a narcotic treatment program, they can drive a vehicle if permitted by the Secretary of State of California

DWI Penalties in California

Penalties for drunk driving are incredibly complex in the state of California. If you have a conviction for driving with a BAC of 0.08% or more within the past ten years, you will bear a minimum jail sentence. Two or three priors within the last ten years will result in felony charges and state prison time. If the blood alcohol content in your body is 0.15% or higher, the state of California imposes a longer sentence. Also, if you refuse the chemical testing, you are subject to an increased jail term as per the administrative suspension for refusal.

Driving in excess of a specified speed or recklessly with a BAC measuring .08% or more leaves you subject to punishable laws. The state of California may impose enhancement of the punishment depending on the seriousness of the situation.

If you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and have a minor passenger under the age of fourteen in the vehicle, California imposes increased penalties for the person.

The state of California also imposes stricter laws in case of injuries or accidents caused by a person driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The existence of property damage or personal injury may trigger to a more serious sentence. Also there are jurisdictions in the state that elevate the offense of personal injury to felony status.

The number of accidents caused by drivers who were driving under the influence of alcohol has decreased. This is due by and large to the public awareness of the dangers of driving while being intoxicated. However, despite all the public awareness campaigns, educational programs and other drunk driving warnings, many people are still choosing to get behind the wheel of their vehicle while intoxicated. During weekends and holidays, drunk driving fatalities are on the rise. If you plan to drink, do not drive. Rather assign a designated driver or call a taxi or relative to pick you up. Play it Safe!

Ignoring the Warnings

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle wrecks are the leading cause of death in the United States; an alarming 40 percent or more are due to alcohol related. Law enforcement agencies across the nation are now issuing stiffer penalties to drunk driving violators, in the hope that this will deter people from driving while intoxicated.

How Dangerous is Drinking and Driving

You do not have to be totally drunk for your reflexes to be impaired. A buzz is all it takes to impair your reaction time. So to be safe rather than sorry, it is recommended that you don’t operate a vehicle while your driving is impaired. A driver with the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 or greater is more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident than a driver who has not consumed any alcohol. The higher the blood alcohol concentration level is, the greater the risk of being in a fatal motor vehicle accident.

Legal Level

A person with a blood alcohol level of .08 is considered to be legally intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “A motor vehicle crash is considered to be alcohol-related if at least one driver or non-occupant (such as a pedestrian or pedal cyclist) involved in the crash is determined to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .01 gram per deciliter (g/dl) or higher.”


All 50 states and Puerto Rico have now implemented the two statutory offenses to driving while under the influence of alcohol. The first offense is driving under the influence (DUI), operating a motor vehicle while impaired or intoxicated (OWI), or driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI). The outcome is determined by a police officer’s observations based on slurred speech, unusual driving behavior or the sobriety test.
The second statutory offense is called “illegal per se”. Illegal per se is driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher

A few facts about driving under the influence of alcohol

• The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports, in 2002 and 2003, 21 percent of persons aged 16 to 20 reported that they had driven in the past year while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs.
• And in 2003, approximately 4 percent of persons who reported driving under the influence (DUI) in the past year had been arrested and booked for DUI in the past year.
• In 2004 approximately 17,000 people in the United States died of alcohol-related auto accidents.
• In the United States, around 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.