Posts Tagged ‘driving while intoxicated’

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What is the Difference Between Driving While Intoxicated & Driving Under the Influence?

Posted on Jun 20, 2012

Both DUI and DWI are terms associated with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. There isn’t much difference between them except the letters. While DUI stands for ‘driving under the influence’, DWI stands for ‘driving while intoxicated or impaired’. DWI laws are different in different states of the US; while some states use DWI, others use DUI.

Difference between DWI and DUI

In most states of the US, DUI or DWI are terms that are used interchangeably. But in Texas both refer to two different offenses. In both, a person is driving a motor vehicle in a public place under the influence of alcohol but the targets can be different in each type of offense.

The differences between DWI and DUI are as follows:

• In states where both terms are used for separate offences, DWI stands for ‘driving while intoxicated of alcohol’ while DUI is ‘driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs’.
• If you are convicted of a DWI, the officials should be able to prove that you operated a vehicle while drunk, or were in physical control of a vehicle when under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Moreover, they need to prove that your BAC was above the legal limit of 0.08 or more due to alcohol abuse.
• The penalties and the punishment are slightly different for both DUI and DWI if you are arrested and proven guilty.
• You can be charged for DUI if your BAC is below or between .08 and .10. DWI arrests happen if your BAC is above the normal or legal limit of .08 to .10.
• As the states of the United States have established different drunk driving laws, the punishment are different for DWI and DUI. If you are arrested for either one of these, you should be aware of the laws associated with them in your state.
• In Texas, DWI is considered to be a Class B misdemeanor and results in punishment of six months in the county jail and a fine of up to $2,000. However, a DUI is considered to be a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of a $500 fine and up to 40 hours of community service. However, in the state of Missouri, there is no DUI law but only DWI cases. In some states, DUI is associated with drug abuse and DWI is specific to only alcohol abuse.

Whatever the name, DWI or DUI are both criminal offenses that can lead to severe punishments and penalties. Are there different penalties for DUI and DWI in your state? Do let us know.

DUI, DWINo Comments »Driving Under the Influence driving while intoxicated

Man Arrested For DUI Abandoned Young Children in Vehicle

Posted on Jan 25, 2012

In Attleboro, Mass., a male driver was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). That’s not all! During his arrest, he apparently forgot to mention to the tow truck driver that his two small children were in the back seat of his Mercedes-Benz as it was being towed away!

Driving While Intoxicated: Fredly Misere DWI Incident

Fredly Misere, 50, was detained by law enforcement officers early Sunday morning because he appeared to be under the influence. According to several reports, Misere left his two daughters, a 3-month old and a 4-year old, in the back of his motor vehicle which was towed away.

DWI Offense on I-95

His vehicle was left on I-95 South, near Route 123 interchange with his two daughters inside. A tow truck was called to the scene. An employee from Sterry Street Towing found Misere who was fast asleep with a beer bottle on his lap. According to the tow truck driver, he had to knock on the window of the vehicle to get the driver’s attention.

Abandoned Children Discovered by Tow Truck Driver

Law enforcement later arrived at the scene of the incident, but by that time Misere’s vehicle, which was heavily tinted, was already hooked to the tow truck. The tow truck driver took the vehicle to the yard, that’s when the two small children were discovered by the driver. According to the tow truck driver, he heard noises coming from the back seat of the vehicle and that was when he discovered the children. It was not until Misere was in the back of the police car that he told officers he was worried about his girls.

Man Arrested For DUI Abandoned Young Children in Vehicle

This is not the first time something like this has happened and it won’t be the last. This is what alcohol can do to you. Hence driving with high blood alcohol content (BAC) should be avoided at all costs. The incident fortunately had a good ending and could have ended much worse. I’m just glad that the kids are safe.

Alcohol Abuse, Blood Alcohol Content, DUI, DWI, Drunk Driving1 Comment »Blood Alcohol Content driving while intoxicated DUI Arrest DWI offense

Causes of Drunk Driving in College Students

Posted on Aug 04, 2011

As college students make the transition from high school to campus life, they come across many physical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. New experiences such as increased independence and the stress of new environments make them susceptible to substance abuse of various sorts. Abusing alcohol and drunk driving in college students need to be examined to determine its cause in an effort to reduce the phenomena.

Increased Rates of Drinking and Driving in College Students

It has been documented that college students have increased rates of drinking and driving when compared to the general population in America. Drinking and driving is one of the most widespread and severe alcohol-related issues encountered by American college students.

Adolescence Risky Behavior – A Cause for Drunk Driving

Researchers have established that the youth tends to involve in riskier behavior throughout adolescence. This risky behavior may extend to alcohol experimentation at levels that are beyond the norm. This may explain college students’ increased propensity to drink and drive.

Physical Cause of College Student Drunk Driving

Young people also have a reduced tolerance to alcoholic beverages. Factors like lower body weight and reduced fat to muscle ratios in youth increase the negative effect of alcoholic beverages. Put this together with the increase in college drinking and it will inevitably leads to elevated levels of drinking and driving.

Environmental Cause of Drinking and Driving in College Students

Drinking and driving can also be contributed by environmental factors such as peer pressure and a permissive attitude towards alcohol in a college student’s parents. The environmentally caused behaviors can be a sign of the multifaceted relationship between the emotional development of college students and the values instilled in them by their environment. For instance, college students that have parents and peers who drink heavily, and they see drinking as a socially acceptable past time, are more likely to drink and drive than someone of the opposite orientation.

Media Promotion of Alcohol’s Affect on Drunk Driving in College Students

Media influences can also be a cause of drinking and driving in college students. These days, drinking is heavily promoted in;

• Movies
• Television
• Radio
• Billboards
• Online

The effect of this promotion begins well before a youth enters a college and the freedom that college life provides may just be the triggering mechanism for drinking and driving and other destructive behaviors in college students.

Drunk Driving in Society

Alcohol is commonly accessible and forcefully promoted in America. Drinking also continues to be a standard part of American life and this extends to college life as well. The dangerous practice of drinking and driving will continue to be a problem among college students as long as this atmosphere persists. To address the causes of drunk driving in college students we must address the causes in the society as a whole, because the effect on one individual will undoubtedly affect the other.

DWI, Drinking Facts, Drunk Driving, Teenage Drunk Drivers, Underage Drinking1 Comment »college student drunk driving Drinking Facts driving while intoxicated Drunk Driving DWI