Posts Tagged ‘DWI conviction’

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How a DWI Conviction Affects your Car Insurance

Posted on May 31, 2012

If you are involved in a DWI conviction, your car insurance rates are likely to increase multifold before you can drive again. Automobile insurance rates will increase by at least three percent. You will also have to consider the SR22 insurance.

SR22 Insurance Laws

If you are convicted for a DWI, you will be given an SR22 insurance policy which is considered to be a high-risk auto insurance policy. This policy is offered as a guarantee by insurance companies so that you are able to pay the basic mandatory liability insurance for a specific period. SR22 insurance will be offered to you for a period of 3 years after you are convicted for drunk driving. You should however conduct adequate research to get a good deal from insurance providers so that you do not end up paying very high interest rates.

The consequences of drunk driving are different in different states; however in all the states, if you are convicted for a DWI offense, your driving privileges will be suspended for about 30 days to a year, even if it is your first offense. To get your driving license and privileges back, you need to fill an SR22 form provided by the licensing agency. This will prove that you have motor vehicle liability insurance. According to SR-22 laws, the insurance company needs to inform the licensing agency, which is usually Department of Motor Vehicles, if the policy is canceled, terminated or lapsed.

DWI Conviction and Car Insurance

If you approach a car insurance agency to get an SR-22 form, you are considered to be a `high-risk’ car owner and driver because of which your insurance premium increases multifold. Depending on the state where you apply for car insurance your insurance rates will increase for at least three years if it is your first offense. The duration increases with subsequent DWI convictions.

Penalties are more severe for special cases like when:

Someone is injured,
A child is in the vehicle,
Your BAC is very high and exceeds the legal limit,
You are an underage driver.

In about 50 states, a BAC of .08 is considered to be the legal limit and if you have higher BAC, then you will be convicted. In about 40 states, penalties for a DUI conviction are doubled if you are tested to have very high BAC level (about.15 or .20).

In order to reinstate your driving license when your suspension is over, you should show that you have a car insurance policy. In most states, an SR22 proof of insurance form can verify that you are legally insured. To reinstate your license you should take the following steps with the insurance company:

Understand how your DWI can affect your insurance
Have a DWI car insurance plan
Fill an SR22 insurance form verifying you are insured
Submit the SR22 insurance form to your DMV

As they say, prevention is better than cure; to avoid increase in insurance premiums due to DWI conviction, simply avoid driving after you’ve had a couple of drinks.

Blood Alcohol Content, Car Insurance, DWINo Comments »BAC Car Insurance DWI conviction SR22 Insurance

What 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 Charges

There 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 Offense

The consequences of a DWI offense are usually quite severe. They include various penalties like:

One year jail time,
Heavy fine,
Community service,
License suspension, and
Counseling.

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 Charges

A DWI charge is applicable to vehicles like cars, trunks or commercial vehicles. However, penalties are more severe for those who:

Operate commercial vehicles
Drive with minors in the car
Drive with a suspended or revoked license or
Drive with no license at all

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 Penalties

How to Prevent Drunk Driving in Working Professionals?

Posted on Jan 11, 2012

DUI has been a continuing problem not just across the country but all around the globe. Many of those arrested for DUI are working professionals. An assortment of associations and advocacy groups has put together a diverse method of programs, legislations, and plans but none have been able to figure out how to prevent drunk driving in working professionals.

Working Professionals and DUI

The problem seems to be going on and on. It appears that every time you look at a news broadcast, there is an account of a working professional that has caused a drunk driving accident. This dilemma has almost become intolerable in the general public. A few ideas that have been discussed around the nation to overcome this DUI problem include:

Increased Legislation to Prevent DWI in Working Professionals

In some states there is a successfully implemented legislation which bans open containers in municipal areas; this ban includes open containers in vehicles as well. Even if this kind of legislation is effective in these states is has not been proven, however empirical evidence seems to suggest it works.

Special Identification for Repeat Offenders

Another idea that has been suggested in some circles is specially designated license plates for those who have been convicted of drunk driving. There can also be an indicator on their driver’s license signifying their DWI convictions.

Restrictions of DWI Offenders Driving Privileges

There is also the idea of restricting nighttime driving of offenders and for those with multiple conviction of DWI. Electronic devices can be used to keeping an eye on those who repeatedly drive while drunk. Ankle bracelets can also be installed with breath analyzing devices that disable the cars of repeat offenders if that have elevated blood alcohol levels.

DWI Education and Instruction

Many have suggested that the government should provide extra instruction in schools and universities along with additional information concerning alcohol abuse and drunk driving to those applying for drivers licenses. Government entities can also use the money for DUI fines to increase the amount of public service announcements on television and radio.

Constant Reminders Are Needed

A little more education, awareness, and harsher consequences would probably be the best mixture to prevent drunk driving in working professionals. Furthermore, producing a sense of social unacceptability could further reduce drunk driving incidents in the future. Constant reminders of the hazards of drinking and driving drive home the point much more effectively than one-time seasonal ads and newspaper articles.

Alcohol Abuse, DUI, DWI, Drunk DrivingNo Comments »Alcohol Abuse Drunk Driving DUI DWI conviction DWI Offender Working Professionals