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Posts Tagged ‘Drunk Driving’« Older EntriesWhat is a DWI Charge?Posted on Mar 21, 2012
DWI or ‘driving while intoxicated’ is an offense where a person is arrested and convicted for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. This influence can be evaluated by the BAC or blood alcohol content and by observing subsequent physical and mental impairments which can hamper driving. DWI ChargesThere are usually two types of DWI charges. One type is `per se’ which is based on the observation of the law enforcement officers during the field sobriety test or is evaluated by a breathalyzer test. In the US, the legal limit of BAC is 0.08 percent, more than this leads to a DWI offense and a DWI conviction. DWI laws depend on the state in which you are living. Each state has its own way of administering field sobriety tests, specific legal limits to BAC for adult, underage and commercial vehicle operators. Consequences of a DWI OffenseThe consequences of a DWI offense are usually quite severe. They include various penalties like:
The severity of the punishment increases with the frequency of the DWI charges. In states like New York, the first DWI offense is considered as a misdemeanor and will not affect the records of the driver. However, subsequent charges are considered as felonies and will appear on criminal records. A DWI conviction can also affect various other areas like employment, probation, promotions and subsequent offenses. The penalty increases if you refuse to cooperate with the law enforcement officers and your charge is termed as an “aggravated” DWI charge. Refusal to take a breathalyzer test can also lead to aggravated DWI charge. If you have caused a fatal accident, then it will be considered as a felony. If it is your first offense with test failure and your BAC is between .08 and 0.149, your driving privileges will be suspended for 30 days, with restricted driving to and from work and to school for 330 days. Second and third offense will lead to suspension of driving privileges for one year followed by one year of restriction of driving only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. The reinstatement fee is $200. The extent of DWI penalties will increase with the number of offenses committed. Handling DWI ChargesA DWI charge is applicable to vehicles like cars, trunks or commercial vehicles. However, penalties are more severe for those who:
Before you are convicted of DWI charges, the Department of Motor Vehicles will begin proceedings to suspend your license. This is different from the criminal charges brought by state prosecutors. If your BAC was above the legal limit and you were arrested for drunk driving, you need to handle the DWI charges effectively as the penalties are very severe and can affect your life and the lives and safety of those around you. Alcohol Abuse, Blood Alcohol Content, DWI, DWI cases, Drunk DrivingNo Comments »BAC Drunk Driving DWI charges DWI conviction DWI offense DWI PenaltiesWhat 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 LawLevels of Alcohol IntoxicationPosted on Feb 16, 2012Every year thousands of people die due to drunk driving incidents in the US alone. In 2010, there were 10,228 fatalities in crashes involving a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, which accounted for 31% of total traffic fatalities for the year. This is despite strict and stringent laws against drunk driving. What can be the reason? One obvious reason is recklessness, another reason accountable for this problem is that most people feel they can control themselves before they get legally intoxicated or reach higher levels, and even if they do, they feel they can control their reactions, which is a myth. For this reason, it can help to know the various stages of alcohol intoxication. Different Levels of IntoxicationThere are different stages of alcohol intoxication depending upon the number of drinks you have had and your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content). The various stages include: Euphoria A BAC of .08 in most states of the U.S is considered to be the limit at which a person is considered legally intoxicated. Euphoria is the stage when the BAC is .10. It results in a reduced capacity to control impulsive reactions, the intoxicated person starts to talk incessantly, becomes more daring and loses fine motor skills because of which driving becomes difficult. Excitement The next level is that of excitement in which the BAC reaches .20. Senses reduce in their normal capacity and become dull, short term memory loss may occur and the vision becomes blurry. It becomes increasingly difficult to perform functions that require gross motor skills. Confusion A BAC of .30 leads to confusion, the person has no idea what he is doing, emotions run high and he becomes extremely sleepy. Vision becomes blurry because of which it becomes difficult to walk. Stupor Higher BAC such as .40 leads to progressive lethargy. A person can barely move and it becomes impossible to stand or walk. Such a person can also not respond to external stimuli. Because this level is equal to stage 1 anesthesia, the person may become unconscious. Coma A BAC of .50 indicates the stage of coma. The intoxicated person becomes completely unconscious, his breathing becomes shallow and the body temperature goes down, pulse rate may also become slow, in some cases the person may also die due to such high levels of BAC. Death When the BAC goes over .50, breathing becomes increasingly difficult, respiratory centers start shutting down and such a high BAC can lead to death. Being aware of the symptoms and effects of various levels of intoxication, one can not only protect oneself but to also be able to help others out when they reach such high levels. Alcohol Abuse, Blood Alcohol Content, Drunk DrivingNo Comments »Alcohol Intoxication Levels Blood Alcohol Content Drunk Driving |
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