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Archive for the ‘DWI Laws’ Category« Older EntriesWar Against Drunk Drivers – Is This Only A Fad?Posted on Oct 18, 2012
Owing to the increase in cases of DWI and also due to the revelation that the driver driving the car of Princess Diana when she met with fateful accident was drunk, MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups set up a campaign again drunk driving called War Against Drunk Drivers. New DWI laws were set up in every state due to severe campaigning of these incidents. Reasons for War Against Drunk DriversAfter the fateful death of Lady Daina, MADD that new laws for DWI need to be set. It also decided to have a new print media campaign directly linked to Princess Diana. According to the MADD National President in 1997, Katherine Prescott said, “This tragedy is a reminder that no one is immune to drunk driving; we should feel just as outraged every time anyone is killed senselessly at the hands of a drunk driver.” This campaign was considered to be fad and had a lot controversy associated with it. It was also considered to be exploitive. The campaign had a lot of fallouts as twenty-six percent of the respondents indicated that “MADD is exploiting a terrible tragedy for its own gain.” To add to the controversy, in one of their ads, about 120 names of girls and women are listed under the headline “We’ve Seen Too Many Princesses Die.” However, a survey conducted by MSNBC indicated that three out of four respondents felt that if such a high profile celebrity can die due to the negligence of a drunk driver then no one is safe and something needs to be done about it. Recommendations by WADD CampaignersThough it carried a lot of controversies, the War Against Drunk Drivers campaign also led to a series of recommendations like:
Moreover, alcoholic beverage industry was not allowed to sponsor athletic events. This campaign brought about a lot of change to the DWI laws some of which were also implemented. This campaign might have had its weak points but it can definitely not be considered a fad; what do you guys think? DWI Laws3 Comments »Drunk Drivers DWI cases MADD WADDWhat are DWI Charges for Minors?Posted on May 23, 2012If a minor (under 21 years of age) operates a vehicle with a BAC above the legal limit it is considered as a DWI offense which is a Class C misdemeanor. There are separate DWI laws for minors driving under the influence of alcohol. While most offenses by minors are treated lightly or mildly, DWI offense is very strict and can lead to severe penalties. Underage DWI ChargesUnderage drinking is a serious offense and if a person is convicted, it can lead to severe consequences like suspension of driving license, fine and imprisonment. Minors can get convicted for DWI offenses if they were arrested operating a vehicle with BAC of 0.02 or more. According to the DWI laws, if you are arrested for drunk driving, you should allow the police officers to administer Field Sobriety Tests to analyze your situation. If you refuse to do so, then you will have to face consequences such as suspension of your driving license. The duration of the suspension depends on the frequency of the offense. Penalties are lesser if it is your first DWI offense, however they can increase with repeated offenses. Consequences of a DWI Charge for MinorsIf your BAC level is above the legal limit, your driving license will be suspended immediately for a minimum of 60 days. However, if it is around the legal limit, then the driving privilege can be suspended. You can be charged for a DWI even if you have had substance abuse. Moreover, if it is a repeat DWI like a second or third DWI offense, you can face imprisonment of 180 days. You can also be sent for rehabilitation if repeat offense. If it is your first time DWI minor offense, then your parents need to be present in the hearings. You will have to pay a fine and attend community service anywhere between 20 and 40 hours to spread awareness about prevention of alcohol abuse. You also need to attend alcohol awareness programs. If you fail to do so your license will be suspended for another 6 months. However, if it is your only one conviction then your crime will be removed from the police record after your 21st birthday. For the second DWI offense, penalties are similar, however, the community service hours will increase accordingly and can be anywhere between 40 and 60 hours. Moreover, your name cannot be removed from the police records and you will be considered as a minor DWI offender. However, DWI laws are very strict for the third time and you will have to pay a fine of up to $2000 with jail time up to 180 days. Depending on the severity of the crime, you may get both fine and jail time along with community service and negative police record that cannot be removed for the rest of your life. You would also not be able to receive any deferred adjudication. Were you convicted of a DWI charge while you were a minor? What were the consequences that you had to face? Do share your story with us in the comments section below. Blood Alcohol Content, DWI, DWI Laws, Underage DrinkingNo Comments »BAC DWI charges DWI Law DWI offense Underage DWI ChargesWhat Factors Affect BAC in Women?Posted on Mar 07, 2012According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, a man and a woman consuming similar quantities of alcohol can have different BAC levels. This is because women have less water and more fat tissues which leads to lower absorption of alcohol and a higher BAC. Moreover, women’s bodies are smaller; so while one drink for a 120 pound woman can lead to higher BAC, the same drink for a man who weighs more could lead to a normal BAC. Factors Affecting Women’s BACThere are many factors which affect a person’s BAC. This includes:
The most important factor affecting the blood alcohol content is the size and gender of the person. With the increase in body weight, the BAC also varies. If the body weight is about 90 pounds, then the BAC would be about .05; however, if the body weight is 220 pounds, then the BAC will be about .04. Women, on average, have a smaller built than men, hence equal doses of alcohol lead to higher BAC in women. Moreover, as women have more body fat which contains lesser water, alcohol does not get easily diluted which leads to higher blood concentration levels in women. Alcohol dehydrogenase, which helps the body expel alcohol from the system, is found less in women which leads to more pure alcohol entering their bloodstream. The hormone levels of women also fluctuate, and alcohol sets in faster when estrogen levels are higher, such as during the premenstrual period. Irrespective of the offender’s gender, DWI laws are quite strict and the consequences are similar in various states of the US. It is necessary that offenders undergo a series of tests to analyze the amount of alcohol consumed. The testing procedures are same for both men and women. Reasons for Drunk Driving Among WomenThe major reason for higher DWI cases among women is the change in lifestyle and increase in stress which has lead to alcohol abuse. Various drunk driving cases have resulted in fatal accidents as well as severe injuries. Heavy drinking among women can also lead to health problems and health conditions like miscarriages and complications during pregnancy. Though there are different DWI laws for women, those are as strict as the laws for men and the consequences are just as severe ranging from penalties to license suspension. Alcohol Abuse, Blood Alcohol Content, DWI, DWI Laws, DWI cases, Drunk Driving5 Comments »BAC Effects BAC Level BAC Women Blood Alcohol Content Drunk Driving DWI Law |
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