Posts Tagged ‘DWI’

Teenage Drunk Drivers -What a DWI Can Do To You?

Posted on Jun 20, 2011

If you are a teenager under 21 years with a BAC of 0.02 and above, then you can be charged for DWI. This can have severe consequences and your license will be revoked. You will not be applicable for a restricted license for at least 60 days.

Statistics and Consequences of Teenage Drunk Driving

Various studies conducted on teenage drunk driving indicate a set of statistics and their consequences:

One teenager is killed every hour due to drunk driving in the US
At least 70% of teenagers have consumed alcohol before they turn 21years
Teenage drunk driving occur during night time and when in the company of their friends
75% of teenage drivers involved in a drunk driving accident while not wearing seat belts.
1/4th of motor vehicle accidents are caused due to teenage drunk driving.
Among the overall alcohol consumption, underage drinking is about 20% of the drinking population.

Effects of Teenage Drunk Driving

If you are a teenager and this is your first DWI offense, then you will have to take part in the Youthful Offender Substance Abuse Awareness in the state where you are living. It also includes a supervised educational tour to a medical center or an emergency care facility that receives vehicle accidents victims or to a morgue to receive appropriate educational material and instruction concerning damages caused by alcohol or other drugs.

Your driver’s license or operating privileges will be revoked administratively or by a court order if you are below 18 years. The revocation continues until the revocation expires or until you reach 18. If it is you first offense and if you are convicted, then your license gets suspended and you can apply for temporary restricted license.

Measures to Control Teenage Drunk Driving

Underage DWI can be risky to them as well as to others and it is very important that various measures are implemented to control teenage drunk driving like:

Parent need to guide them and are able to play a vital role in making them understand the effects of drunk driving and the consequences of DWI.
Various states have implemented harsh penalties on teenagers who involve in drinking and driving which discourage them against drunk driving.
They should be aware that it is a crime to drink when they are a teenager and below 21
Zero Tolerance law has also established in various states where teenagers below 21 years are not allowed to operate a vehicle while drunk and any alcohol found in their body can immediately lead to DWI offense
DWI laws are very strict for teenage drunk driving and parents are also subject to conviction if they have provided the alcohol to them which led to the accident
The punishments imposed on teenage drunk driving involve severe penalties like suspension of driving license, huge fines and jail term. It also requires compulsory attendance of alcohol treatment programs.

Teenage drunk driving is a serious offense and can lead to DWI with strict rules and regulations which can affect your life.

Cost of Teenage DUI & Emotional Factors

Posted on Jun 06, 2011

Teenage DUI is one of the most serious concerns in our society. This has led to over one quarter of all motor vehicle accidents in the country. Moreover, one of the leading causes of deaths of teenagers between 15 and 20 is due to motor vehicle accidents. Also according to estimations, one teenager is killed every hour in the United States due to teenage drunk driving.

Emotional Factors for Teenage DUI

To get a better understanding of teenage drunk driving, it is important to look at the emotional factors involved in it and the laws governing its consequences. Estimations indicate that over seventy percent of them start consuming alcohol before they turn 21 years. In 1995 over ten million drinkers were underage and it accounts to ten to twenty percent of all alcohol consumption in the country. The consequences of underage drinking and teenage DUI leads to a cost of about fifty three billion dollars in losses every year.

Main Cause of Teenage DUI

Teenage DUI is usually caused due to drunk driving during night time when they are travelling in groups. They want to show that they are better than the others and tend to show off in-front of their peers. Males are likely to indulge in it more than females, though the percentage of females is increasing. They put themselves at greater danger as they have the tendency of taking greater risks and exercise less caution. Moreover they do not wear their seatbelts as it not considered stylish to do so.

Teenage DUI – First Offense

If it is the first DUI of teenagers, then it is considered a serious offense and their parents or guardians need to be available for the hearings. They will be fined huge amount of money along with suspension of their license for a long duration. They will also have to attend community service for 20 to 40 hours which includes education about prevention of alcohol misuse. They also need to attend alcohol awareness programs. In case this is not done, their license will be suspended for another 6 months. If it is their only conviction in their records, then it will be removed from the police records after they reach 21 years.

Teenage DUI – Second Offense

If it is their second offense, then they will face similar charges as the first time DWI.However the cost involved is much higher as the consequences are even more severe. The fine amount is much more and the duration of the suspension of driving license is much longer. The community service hours will also increase to between 40 and 60 hours. They will also not get the levy of removing their name from the police or legal records as minor DWI offender. However, they still might receive deferred adjudication for a second offense. As compared to the first and second DWI offense, the third time offense is very strict and will include fine for about $2000 with Jail time of about 180 days.

Therefore, emotional factors as well as cost involved in teenage DUI are quite high and can affect them as well as their family members.

DUI, DWI, Teenage Drunk Drivers, Underage Drinking2 Comments »DUI DWI DWI offense Teenage Drunk Drivers Teenage DUI

Top 6 Major Differences between DWI & DUI

Posted on May 23, 2011

DUI and DWI are interchangeable in some states, however in some states like Texas there are considered to be two different offenses. While DUI is driving under the influence, DWI is driving while intoxicated.In both offenses a person is driving a motor vehicle in a public place, however the targets varies in each type of offense.

Top 6 Differences between DUI and DWI

DUI and DWI are two similar crimes but are considered to be two different offenses. Here are the few differences:

It is based on the state and how they identify it in the law. DUI refers to an alcoholic beverage impairment or Drunk Driving
To be convicted of a DWI, it should be proven that the person operating the motor vehicle was either driving, operating or in physical control of a vehicle when being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Also at that time, his blood alcohol concentration should be of .08 % or more due to alcohol abuse. If he refuses to take the tests to identify the BAC level, then he can be convicted.
The penalties and the punishment for both DUI and DWI are different if a person is arrested and proven guilty.
If a person is arrested for DUI, then his/her BAC is above the normal or legal limit of .08 % to .10 %.
Different states in the United States have established different drunk driving laws resulting in different punishment for DWI and DUI. Therefore, if arrested for either of them, you should be aware of the laws for DUI or DWI in your state.
In Texas, DWI is a Class B misdemeanor and involves a maximum punishment of six months in the county jail and a fine of up to $2,000. However, Driving under the influence (DUI) is a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum punishment of a $500 fine and up to 40 hours of community service. Likewise in Missouri, there is no DUI law but only DWI cases. DUI is related to drug abuse in some states and DWI is specific to only alcohol abuse.

Whether you are convicted for a DWI or DUI, you will have to face serious penalties and punishment in any case.

Alcohol Abuse, DUI, DWINo Comments »Alcohol Abuse DUI DWI