Drunk Driving – Why It’s Not Worth It

March 26, 2012 By 1 Comment


Drunk Driving – Why It’s Not Worth It
By Joseph Devine

Simply put, drunk driving is illegal, and drunk drivers who are charged with a DUI under the age of 21 face a number of penalties in the United States. Though a DUI under 21 rarely results in a prison sentence, there are still serious consequences that you will have to face if you are arrested for driving drunk.

Potential Consequences

Ultimately, the temporary thrill you may have from illegally getting drunk with your friends and then illegally driving drunk is just not worth the risk. Before you get behind the wheel while drunk or accept your friend’s invitation into a car while they are drunk, consider the many consequences you may face:

  • Risk of injury or death. This is probably the most rehashed point made against drunk driving, and with good reason. Drunk driving is not worth risking your life, your friends’ lives, or someone else’s.
  • Dealing with the court system. Getting a DUI means that you will ultimately have to face your day in court. There is a lot of stress, time, and money involved in preparing for court, and when you are already bogged down by school or work, you don’t need this additional stress.
  • Having a criminal record. A DUI isn’t like getting a parking ticket. It’s not something that you can pay for and have it disappear. A DUI charge goes on your criminal record and can hurt your chances of getting a job, applying to schools, or getting a loan, even years later.
  • Costs of sealing a record. If you decide to hire a lawyer to get your criminal record sealed so that your DUI doesn’t hurt your future, you will be facing a number of legal fees and another round of dealing with the court.

What to Do If You’ve Been Drinking

You can save a lot of time, money, pain, and stress by thinking before you act. If you are under 21 and have been drinking, don’t get in the car. Most states have a zero tolerance policy and will arrest you for any detectable alcohol consumption, and police officers are trained to spot drunk drivers. Instead of driving, call a friend or family member to pick you up. Even if the only people you can reach are your parents, you are better off dealing with punishment at home than with a court of law.

When to Contact a Lawyer

Being charged with a DUI under 21 is a serious offense. If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI under 21, contact a DUI defense lawyer immediately. A good lawyer with expertise in DUI defense can provide solid legal advice and help you prepare for your defense in court.

For more information and assistance with DUI defense, please see the website of Rhode Island DUI defense lawyer James Powderly here.

Joseph Devine

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Filed Under: DUI, DUI News

Drink Driving – Alcohol Interlock Devices

March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Michael T Gatenby -

Statistics demonstrate that Queensland Police administer approximately 3 million breath tests per annum. 8,032 detected drink drivers or more than one in four in the 2007-08 financial year had at least one previous drunk driving offence in the last five years.

Alarmingly, the 2004 to 2007 crash data shows that drivers with prior drink driving offences were 5.44 times more likely to be a drink driver when involved in serious casualty crashes. It follows that sanctions such as fines or licence disqualifications are not deterring a large proportion of drink drivers from committing further offences.

To combat these statistics, on 6 August 2010, Queensland introduced alcohol interlock legislation, which requires motorists to install alcohol interlock devices where they have been convicted of:

  1. A drink driving offence with a breath/blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more;
  2. Driving under the influence of liquor;
  3. Failing to provide a breath/blood specimen for analysis;
  4. Dangerous driving while affected by alcohol; or
  5. Two or more drink driving offences of any kind within a five-year period.

The interlock devices are designed to prevent a driver who is under the influence of alcohol from operating a vehicle by requiring a specimen of breath before the vehicle will start. Currently the cost of the device is approximately $2000. Motorists are required to have the device fitted to the vehicle and must comply with the requirements for a cumulative period of at least 12 months.

While this new legislation adds additional cost to drink drivers, such cost is balanced against the protection of the community and the opportunity for drivers to obtain their mobility, employment and family commitments.

The day after the court ordered disqualification period ends, the drink driver is required to apply for a new “I” interlock licence. If during the course of the program the driver is intercepted in another vehicle, or starts the nominated vehicle without providing a breath specimen the legislation prescribes a maximum fine of $2800, further disqualification and an order to start the interlock program again.

Drivers are also permitted to opt out of a program, however they will be prohibited from driving a motor vehicle for a minimum period of 2 years (in addition to the disqualification period). Further if intercepted whilst unlicensed they face a maximum fine of $4000 and a further disqualification period of 6 months.

Some exemptions have been built into the legislation to assist the disadvantaged from an otherwise crushing disqualification period.

A criminal lawyer is able to assist you with any issues arising from your drink driving charge or participation in the Alcohol Interlock Program. The consequences of not complying with your obligations could be catastrophic for your employment and family responsibilities.

Criminal law is a unique and complex area of legal practice. It requires an understanding of a myriad of relevant laws, court procedure and an ability to advocate on behalf of your client. Michael Gatenby established Gatenby Criminal Lawyers as a boutique criminal law firm to provide strategic representation for those charged with criminal or traffic offences. We understand criminal practice, its all we do.

When your liberty and reputation is at stake, you should demand a lawyer with the skills and commitment to provide your fearless defence. Visit our website http://www.gatenbylaw.com.au or contact us for advice (07)55800120. We regularly appear in all Queensland Courts and travel interstate

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Filed Under: DUI, DUI News, Featured DUI Articles

Motor Vehicle Accidents – A New Form of Driving Drunk: Driving While Distracted

February 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Max Renouf -

Over the years there has been a definite change in the ways that drunk drivers are viewed. In the late 1960′s and 1970′s there was a lot less negativity associated with the act of driving drunk, and much of this is evidenced by stories that come from this era. It is often told that police would follow an offending drunk home, allowing them to continue to drive their own car. These small towns across America even had local characters that were more often drunk than not, becoming legends in their own right for doing things such as driving home backwards while intoxicated, even under the watchful eye of the town police. These were funny stories often told to everyone in town, but it was a long time ago.

These stories have basically ended, however, as organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving have brought the problems of driving drunk to the attention of the rest of the country. Most people today find little humor in people driving while drunk and instead would like to see the police arrest them rather than escort them home.

While it is common knowledge that driving after drinking too much can be very dangerous, there are many others that do not know how dangerous it is to drive while you are distracted. Examples of driving distracted include testing while driving, messing with your GPS while behind the wheel, checking email, and even talking to others while on the telephone. These and other types of distracted driving are almost as dangerous as being inebriated.

One of the big problems with distracted driving is that people who otherwise would never consider drinking and then driving are the very people who are likely to do the things that cause them to become distracted drivers. They preach to their kids not to drink and get behind the wheel, but they talk on the phone while driving and even send text messages.

To make matters worse, cars today have many things as “conveniences” that lead to these distractions. This includes gaming systems and televisions, CD players, and cars that talk to you along the way. It is these build in distractions added to those we bring along with us that leads to distracted driving. A parent that would never consider drinking and the driving is all too often the one that is behind the wheel and doing the distracting things, making themselves a dangerous car on the road.

As studies about distracted driving mount, it is evident that these types of drivers are a serious threat on the roads. As of 2009, distracted driving caused the deaths of over 5,800 people. All segments of society are represented, but those under the age of 24 are typically the most likely to be distracted. While some states and cities have laws against being distracted while driving, the problem is that it is not a social stigma yet. Just like drunk driving took educating the public for a time before it became seen as wrong, distracted driving may require similar education before things change.

Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers Sydney are expert compensation solicitors who fight for your legal right to compensation. If you are looking for an experienced Lawyer in Sydney call them today.

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Filed Under: DUI, DUI News, Featured DUI Articles

Drunk Driving

February 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Josh Riverside -

Operating a motor vehicle, or for that matter even a bicycle or other human-powered vehicle, after consuming alcohol or other drugs so that mental and motor skills are impaired is recognized as an act of driving under the influence (DUI) or drunk driving. Illegal in most jurisdictions, drunk driving is responsible for a large number of deaths, injuries, and accidents every year throughout the world.

The name of the specific criminal offence, depending on the jurisdiction, may be driving while intoxicated (DWI), operating while intoxicated (OWI), operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OMVI), driving under the influence [of alcohol or other drugs] (DUI), or drunk in charge [of a vehicle]. Such laws are valid for boating or piloting aircraft, also.

The guilt of the driver may be established by subjective tests of his impairment, or the measurement of his blood alcohol content (BAC). BAC is expressed in terms of milligrams of alcohol per milliliters of blood, or as a percentage.

Drinking and driving is not the same as drunk driving or the other terms mentioned earlier. Drinking and driving means driving a vehicle after consuming an alcoholic beverage, or driving while consuming one. Driving after consuming alcohol is generally not considered illegal unless the driver loses his ability to drive safely as defined by law.

Even if the driver is not impaired, driving while consuming alcohol is often illegal. In some jurisdictions, keeping an open container of an alcoholic beverage in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is illegal.

In the United States, all states set a BAC limit of 0.08%. Some states, however, slap a lesser charge, known usually as driving while impaired, on a BAC of around 0.05%. All states charge under-21 drivers who have committed a drunk driving offence if alcohol is detected in their blood (set at .00%, .01% or .02% to be meaningful). The limit for aircraft pilots and commercial drivers is fixed at 0.04%.

Drunk Driving [http://www.e-DrunkDriving.com] provides detailed information on Drunk Driving, Drunk Driving Lawyers, Drunk Driving Accidents, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and more. Drunk Driving is affiliated with Cancer Treatment Centers [http://www.e-TreatmentCenters.com].

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Filed Under: DUI, DUI News

The Facts About Drunk Driving

February 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Robert R Shryoc -

Statistics brought about in two thousand and ten have shown that over thirty percent of all drivers on the road will be involved in some sort of accident that involves drunk driving. Whether you are the driver of a vehicle, a passenger to a drunk driver, or an innocent driver out on the road, drunk driving can put all vehicle operators at risk for severe harm.

The frightening statistics begin with the fact that over forty percent of all deaths on the road are directly related to driving under the influence of alcohol. Thus far, in two thousand and eleven, it has been reported that someone is killed from driving under the influence approximately every forty-five seconds in the United States. Back in two thousand and eight, over twelve thousand individuals had lost their lives to the irresponsible behavior of driving drunk or being killed by an individual under the influence.

These statistics also do not figure in those who have been severely harmed during a drunk driving accident and have survived. Some have suffered loss of limbs, third degree burns to their skin, or partial to complete loss of mobility.

Unfortunately, a great deal of these accidents occur more on the weekends, when individuals are often not working, and celebrating their free time. Holidays are also a time in which there is a definite increase in accidents and deaths relating to driving under the influence of alcohol. This is directly related to the fact that there are more people out on the road, during holiday weeks or weekends. Also, holidays have been traditionally known as a time of celebration, often involving the consumption of beer, liquor and/or wine.

There are several groups that are taking a stand to try and stop the cycle of drunk driving, and reduce the number of individuals and families harmed and/or killed on the road. These groups include, but are not limited to:

* Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD)

* Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD)

* DUI Hope

* Smart and Sober

* Young Adults Educating Responsible Drinking (YAERD)

Even as these groups continue to promote safe driving habits, there are still those who irresponsibly continue to drive under the influence of alcohol. Public ad campaigns and cities cracking down on drunk driving have also made changes in the way individuals think before acting on the road. Although, the daunting death rate for those involved in drunk driving accidents is still out there.

In making a choice to continually drive sober, and assisting friends and/or family in making like decisions, we as a whole can make a great impact on the safety of our roads. If you know someone, or you yourself are suffering from alcoholism or abuse of alcohol on a regular basis, contact a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. It’s never too late to save your life, or the life of someone else.

Robert Shryoc is the Director of Development at the Stonegate Center, a Texas treatment center. The Texas drug rehab community serves people entangled in the physical, mental, social and spiritual bonds of chemical dependency. For more information about the residential treatment facility please visit http://www.stonegatecenter.com.

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Filed Under: DUI, DUI Court, DUI News

MCSO: Phoenix jail on lockdown after bomb threat – ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)

December 29, 2010 By

MCSO: Phoenix jail on lockdown after bomb threat
ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
According to Sgt. Jesse Spurgin with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, a man came into the jail at Fourth Avenue and Jackson Street around 3:30 pm and ...

Filed Under: DUI, DUI News

Too much to drink? Call a cab on New Year’s

December 28, 2010 By

GALESBURG — Area residents who have too many drinks on New Year’s Eve will have a safe option for getting home this year.

A community-based initiative known as Alert Cab will be offering free cab rides to tipsy residents from any participating Galesburg bar or restaurant on Dec. 31 from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The program has been ongoing for “at least 15 years, if not more,” said Adam Vitale, general manager of G&M Distributors, a company that distributes beer, wine, spirits and other refreshments.

Its main goal is to curb drunk driving on a day that has become synonymous with partying and drinking.

“People who misuse the product we distribute don’t do us any good,” Vitale said.

The free cab rides will take residents from the bar to their homes in Galesburg. Out-of-town residents may call the phone number, although they will have to begin paying for the cab ride once it leaves city limits.

The program is sponsored by the G&M, Dennis Twitty State Farm Insurance, United Cab Company and Galesburg Broadcasting. The cab company can be contacted at 341-6161.

Use of the program has become rampant in recent years, Vitale said, in part because the price of DUI fines has skyrocketed with the passage of new tough-on-crime laws.

On average, a DUI conviction costs $16,100 in Illinois, according to the Secretary of State’s office. The figure includes costs related to increased insurance premiums, legal fees, court costs and income loss.

Knox County Sheriff David Clague also attributed stiffer DUI laws to the decrease in drunk drivers his department sees during the holiday.

“It seems like the number of DUIs has declined,” he said, although the numbers haven’t dropped “as much as I’d like.”

For New Year’s Eve, the sheriff’s department will operate a few checkpoints throughout the area during the evening hours Friday.

In Galesburg, bars will be open for an extra hour, closing at 3 a.m. Saturday instead of 2 a.m. The Police Department will increase the number of on-duty officers well above what a normal shift would call for in response to the busy holiday, said Capt. Lindsey May.

Besides patrolling the roads for drunk drivers, police officers will be making more frequent checks at the town’s taverns while talking to bar owners and occupants to halt disturbances.

And the holiday could be hectic, especially considering two other factors that could also bring more patrons into local establishments: the weather outlook and the night of the week that New Year’s Eve lands on.

For one, temperatures could reach 50 degrees on New Year’s Eve, giving more residents an incentive to go out that night. Additionally, the holiday lands on the weekend, another reason for residents to visit local bars.

All of these factors could mean a very busy night for cab drivers with Alert Cab.

“It’s very important to us,” Vitale said. “Our goal is to keep everyone safe on New Year’s Eve.”

Source

Filed Under: Arizona DUI Laws, DUI, DUI News

VT Auditor to Help Fight DUI on New Year’s Eve

December 28, 2010 By

Vermont Auditor of Accounts Tom Salmon is going to spend New Year’s Eve helping combat drunken driving.

Salmon was convicted of driving under the influence following a November 2009 traffic stop.

He says he’s learned his lesson, paid his fine and endured losing his license. He’s also completed project Crash.

On New Year’s Eve Salmon says will drive a van as part of a DUI-prevention program by Bennington County Sheriff Chad Schmidt. Salmon will drive a van for people who need a ride.

Source

Filed Under: Arizona DUI Laws, DUI, DUI News

man accused of molesting girlfriend’s daughters – Arizona Republic

December 28, 2010 By

man accused of molesting girlfriend's daughters
Arizona Republic
28, 2010 03:52 PM The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office arrested on Monday a Phoenix resident on suspicion of sexually abusing his girlfriend's two daughters ...

and more »
Filed Under: DUI, DUI News

Florida DUI Suspect Punches Deputy, Slips Out of Handcuffs and Pants

December 28, 2010 By

In Bayou George, Florida, a woman pulled over for suspected DUI has been arrested on additional charges, after she slipped out of police handcuffs as well as her clothes and allegedly assaulted a deputy following a car crash.

Samantha Wilson, a 22-year-old woman, was put in custody after she crashed her car at 4 p.m. on a Sunday. She was arrested when police suspected her of drunk driving, and that is when the real excitement began.
According to the NWF Daily News, notes from drunk driving police say that Wilson, whose hands were handcuffed in front of her, quickly slipped out of them the first time. Police re-handcuffed her, and put her in the front seat of a police cruiser.

But while highway patrol trooper Ken McNabb was putting her seatbelt on, Wilson, having once again freed herself from the handcuffs, punched him in the head.

McNabb was able to get the door of the cruiser closed, but Wilson escaped from her handcuffs again, and let herself out of the car. It was about then that she dropped her trousers and began to relieve herself next to the police vehicle. Her husband arrived soon after, pleading with her to stop urinating and pull her pants back up.

Wilson was restrained again and put back into a patrol car. On the way to the police station, according to McNabb, Wilson yelled and screamed, asking to see her husband while kicking at the windows behind the officer’s driver’s seat.

She then proceeded to remove her shoes and pants so that she was naked from the waist down. “She stated that she was going to urinate on my seats before launching into a shouting tirade,” said Deputy Randolph Grob.

Then Wilson, already on her way to jail on suspicion of DUI in Florida, began to slam the plexiglass divider with her handcuffs. She had taken them off again and put them on her fist as though they were a pair of brass knuckles.

The officer stopped the car because he thought Wilson would break through the glass, and when he opened the door to the back seat, she punched him in the nose again. He didn’t remove her from the car because he thought he might hurt her, so instead he was able to force the door closed and radio ahead to the police station to have a female officer ready for her arrival.

Once at the jail, officers had to forcibly remove her from the car amidst her continued punching.

Filed Under: DUI, DUI News
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