FUEL SAVING TIPS

Author Archive

DUI And The Authorities

Driving under the influence, also known as a DUI; should not be taken lightly by any individual. You could not just think that you can get away with it since authorities are likely to apprehend you when you are caught doing so.

The odds that someone is operating a vehicle under the influence is high since there is no law to stop them drinking up a storm. For this reason it has become a cause for concern because of all the fatalities resulting from it and families destroyed.

Drivers who are under the influence (DUI) believe they can drive a straight line or well enough to avoid being detected by officers, but that is not the case. Even the best drivers will give themselves away when intoxicated since they are not functioning at 100% and will be caught.

There are several ways traffic authorities have to detect intoxication from alcohol, drugs or other neural compounds and one is the BAC test. This test measures the amount of alcohol content in the blood. In the United States a reading of .08% or higher classifies a person as DUI and if driving and caught you will be liable for an offense.

The breathalyzer test in another commonly used way of finding out if a driver is intoxicated or not. The name already implies that breathing is involved, and it is. This test is administered after officers have stopped a potential offender. The driver is required to blow into a device that will that give a reading showing the blood-alcohol concentration. In order to be stopped and charged, the breathalyzer results have to be in the drunken range.

Officers that can not perform the breathalyzer test will make a suspicious driver take a laboratory test to determine the percentage of alcohol in the body.

When a driver is found to be intoxicated, he is given some penalties according to the laws in a particular state. The penalties for a DUI are not general in all states; one state may enforce a higher penalty than another. Penalties also vary according to the number of offenses committed. If it is a first offense, the penalties may be lighter than with second or third offenses and so on.

There are also states that define lines between the age of the offender, such as being a minor or a full-grown adult. Minors are often given some degree of leniency compared to people who have reached the age of majority.

There have been many campaigns in recent years to educate both adults and minors alike on the consequences of driving under the influence. Due to the unacceptable number of DUI incidents in recent years authorities are enforcing the law more in apprehending drivers that are DUI in hope of possibly saving a life or more.

About the Author:

Posted by Richard Milford on October 1st, 2009 No Comments

Being Intoxicated When Driving

It is an all too common scenario. You and co-workers stop after work for a get together and have a couple drinks, and even though you do not feel impaired when leaving you find yourself being pulled over and charged with DWI ( Driving While Intoxicated). State laws have, with pressure from groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), tightened up on the law for DWI offenders with an additional boost to the revenue.

Drunk drivers are involved in more fatal accidents, so states don’t make much difference in treatment of those that have a couple drinks after work and those that are alcoholics that down a twelve pack every night after work. You will both have to pay an attorney the same costs and you are both subject to the same penalties, jail time and fines, especially on first offenses.

Once the BAC (blood alcohol content), was lowered to .08 it was devastating to bar owners and their business. For the average person the .08 level would be like consuming two beers in one hour or less. There can be license suspension for thirty days minimum even before the court date and the offender being found guilty. These suspensions are mandatory. Then there are the SATOP classes which will cost a couple hundred dollars and don’t forget the legal fees.

Even though alcohol is legal and you can buy it if you are old enough, you still will have to suffer tougher consequences for drinking than you would for another substance like marijuana. You will also have higher defense costs than a drug user and this is especially true if you are just a social drinker and are unlucky enough to get caught.

Such cases may fall under the DUI charge, which is driving under the influence. Most states define a DUI as being when it is obvious to the police you have consumed alcohol, but your BAC test does not exceed the 0.08% limit. The police are allowed to charge you with a DUI if they can just smell alcohol on your breath and that basically means that just one sip of a drink can result in the hassles, expenses and license suspensions that every heavy drinker gets when they are pulled over and caught drinking and driving.

These new, stricter “drunk” driving laws discourage you from having a drink with dinner or visiting a bar for a birthday party or anything else. The risk of getting caught is what makes some people only drink at home and withdraw from any social setting where they might want to have a drink or two as a social occasion.

One way of avoiding the risk of being caught is to have someone come along to any festivity, such as a birthday party or bachelor party, etc., that will not drink at all to be the driver but some don’t think it is fair for one to be pressured in it and not enjoy the festivities same as they are.

If you are reading this article, then you have every right to be concerned if you already have a DWI or DUI on your record. Unfortunately, the best advice that can be offered is to prepare for tough financial times, since you will spending a lot of money even before you are possibly found guilty in court, Also keep in mind that the mandatory driver’s license suspension doesn’t have anything to do with the outcome of the court’s verdict. In fact, almost every state will immediately suspend your driving privileges and that for at least 30 days. However, a good lawyer can help you to get a hardship license and may even save you from a jail sentence, paying an expensive find and losing your driver’s license for one year.

About the Author:

Posted by Richard Milford on September 30th, 2009 No Comments

The Nitty Gritty Of A DUI

Today it seems that you hear the abbreviation constantly. DUI task forces are constantly on the news. However, not everyone understands the basics of a DUI are or even what DUI stands for.

DUI simply means “driving under the influence” and by definition it means while someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs they got behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and drove. When it comes to the states may have different requirements pertaining to DUI’S but in all states it is illegal.

A DUI charge is a criminal charge. Though alcohol is legal to drink for individuals over 21, driving while your blood/alcohol content is above the legal limits is illegal. Additionally, being under the influence of illegal drugs is obviously a crime, but driving while being impaired by even prescription medications can be a crime as well.

There are many police officers who are on the look -out for those who may be driving under the influence. They often drive erratically drawing attention to themselves. The reason for this is a person’s focus and reaction time is greatly diminished.

When a law enforcement officer pulls someone over with the suspicion that it may be a DUI, they will begin by questioning the driver as to whether they are under the influence of anything. After that, it is normal for the officer to complete a field sobriety test with the driver. This is where they will test your coordination and physical reactions like walking on a straight line or standing on one foot while touching your nose with each hand. After that, if the suspicion is still fairly high that this is a case of DUI the officer may request a more specific test like a breathalyzer or even a blood test to check what your blood levels are.

It is necessary to remember that laws vary from state to state but most will allow the driver to decide which advanced test to take. There is also something called implied consent, which is found in each state. What this means is that at the time you got your license you consented to be tested if you were stopped. The point here is that driving is a privilege and you are putting many innocent people on the road and yourself in danger.

Each state has its own punishments for DUI offenses. The most common consequences to be expected are jail time, community service, fines, probation or a suspended license. The severity of the consequences will depend on just how severe the crime was. For example, if your blood levels were way over the legal limit or if it is not a first offense then you can safely assume that your punishment will be more severe than for a lesser infraction.

About the Author:

Posted by Richard Milford on September 26th, 2009 No Comments