Felony Drunk Driving

November 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Joseph Devine –

Despite the best efforts of public safety campaigns, citizen organizations like MADD, and a wide variety of other efforts to reduce the number of people who get behind the wheel after drinking, the number of drunk driving arrests, convictions, and accidents remains at a somewhat steady level. In the most recent year for which records are available, 44% of traffic fatalities involve alcohol use or abuse as a cause of the accident.

In an effort to reduce the number of citizens involved in drunken driving accidents, the state has adopted the stance that deterrence may be more likely the harsher the punishments are for those who are caught drinking and driving. Punishments that are meant to deter people from committing the offense in question are expected to stop the current or original offender from committing the same crime again because he or she will be in jail or otherwise indisposed. The other prong of deterrence is a hope that others will opt not to partake in the illegal or bad behavior in an effort to avoid the punishment that they know will hit them.

Part of the deterrence factor when it comes to drunk driving is that the amount of punishment escalates with the number of convictions for drunk driving. The state, basically, announces that it is not as concerned about an “oops” occurrence as it is with those who habitually engaged in the habit of drinking and then driving. The escalation is also meant to discourage those who are one away from a lengthy prison sentence from drinking and driving that one more time that pushes them over the edge.

Felony drunk driving is part of the program of escalating sentences employed by states to deter individuals from drinking and driving. First of all, a felony is a crime that is punishable by a year or more in prison. There are levels of felonies but as a rule, they are all punishable by a year or more in a penitentiary or prison.

Felony drunk driving in many starts at the third drunken driving conviction. This mirrors the ‘three strikes’ policies or laws that some of the same states have enacted to discourage general criminal behavior. In addition, states have linked their drunken driving statutes to other crimes. For example, assault with a deadly weapon can be charged in some states if the person operates a car while intoxicated. In this situation, the car is a deadly weapon. Murder and manslaughter have also been tied to drunk driving in some states.

The Las Vegas DUI attorneys of Palmer & Associates understand the repercussions of multiple drunk driving convictions and are fully prepared to defend their clients whether it is the first or the eighth charge.

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Do You Know Where to Turn After a DUI Arrest?

October 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Violet Ebert –

Were you aware that driving under the influence is the number one cause of automobile accidents in the United States? Every year, there are 25,000 deaths and 708,000 injuries as a direct of result of accidents caused by those who’ve had too much to drink. Those are staggering statistics. So what happens when you made the same bad decision in driving under the influence? The answer lies with your Washington DUI attorney.

A DUI arrest is nothing to take lightly. There are severe repercussions that come with a DUI on your record. First off, it can potentially affect both you professional and personal credibility. It can be a severe black mark on an otherwise clean record. A DUI arrest could mean you are not eligible or suitable for a number of jobs. This is especially true if your job involves driving for a living. You can’t exactly drive with a suspended license. A Seattle DUI lawyer can make sure you life isn’t impacted too severely.

Obviously none of this sounds quite appealing, making a Washington DUI attorney even more important. They can hopefully minimize the negative impact of a DUI charge. This can range from suggesting a plea bargain or pleading guilty to a lesser charge, with a less severe punishment. Your Seattle DUI lawyer is the best option you have in knowing your rights and what is the best course of action. Here are the three main items to look out for when searching for a Washington DUI lawyer:

Case History
Their case history means their standing in the courtroom and in society. It also means how many cases they or their firm has won. If your Washington DUI lawyer has not won that many cases, then it probably is a smart decision to find one who has. The last thing you want is an attorney who promises a lot but delivers very little, except a bill at the very end.

Experience
A smart decision is to check the amount of time your lawyer has served in a court of law setting. You can’t underestimate the importance of this. Do you trust your case to an attorney who has never seen a courtroom before?

Price
Price is probably the one issue both parties must be clear on. You want a Seattle DUI lawyer whose price is affordable. Ask about their costs, fees and when you are responsible for payments. Choose a lawyer who is affordable, honest, and upfront with all costs.

Violet is a Seattle DUI lawyer passionate about handling your DUI charge, with ease, speed and professionalism. Trust your case to a dynamic Washington DUI attorney. A Washington DUI lawyer can act swiftly on your behalf.

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Filed Under: Bail, DUI, DUI Court, Jail Tagged With: , , , ,

Jail Time – A Possibility For Severe DUI Cases

October 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Frank Schumacher –

It is often an assumption that people you see who are behind bars are people that committed violence and have been thrown inside jail in order to protect the rest of the community. However, one fact that is often overlooked is the fact that a person arrested for driving under the influence or DUI can be put behind bars as well. But, lawmakers have been updating and amending penalties and punishment for drinking and driving offenses to impose more strict consequences of the DUI offense.

Some states have required jail time as a possible consequence of a driving under the influence (DUI) offense even though this varies from state to state. The state’s judiciary system will impose specific minimum and maximum time to spend inside the jail as a sentence to the offense. The length of this mandatory jail time is being determined by the multitude as well as the number of offense the defendant has on his or her criminal record.

The judge who is in charge of the case of the defendant’s DUI case has no jurisdiction on the length of jail time that the defendant will receive under the mandatory jail time laws.

Other than the number and multitude of the offense in the defendant’s record, some other factors in determining the length of jail stay also exist. They are mostly called punishment enhancers that can increase the defendant’s jail time. Excessive levels of alcohol found during the blood alcohol concentration test during the period of arrest or if the defendant caused an accident while drinking and driving warrant an additional jail time sentence for the defendant.

Another factor would be transporting a minor at the time of intoxication will similarly add jail time sentence on the defendant.

Aside from jail time, other penalties that the defendant may receive if found guilty of the DUI offense also exist such as longer driver’s license suspension or revocation, community service, rehabilitation, education and the vehicle that was used in the offense may be impounded.

Additional charges or an increase in the defendant’s car insurance may also be faced by the drunk-driving offender in addition to all the legal penalties and consequences. A DUI arrest or conviction may also result to difficulty in attaining or maintaining a standing employment in the defendant’s given field and issues regarding vehicle renting may arise in the future making it harder for the defendants and an added burden to them.

Therefore, it is important to save yourself from all these problems by avoiding drinking and driving altogether. Not only will it benefit you but will also ensure safety of the people in your community.

If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI offense and you are worried that you might face a mandatory jail time sentence, it is essential that you contact an [http://www.az-dui-lawyer.com/html/dui-info.html#faq]Arizona DUI attorney or Phoenix DUI attorney who specializes in this field to guide you through the process and educate you with the proper knowledge about what you are going to face.

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Making Sure Crime Doesn’t Pay

October 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

By Nathan Tabor –

It’s hard for me to think of a job that’s more frustrating these days than that of a
local cop.

Day in and day out, local police officers and sheriff’s deputies lay their lives on the
line in an effort to bring criminals to justice.  However, shortly after they bring these
punks to the jailhouse, the lawbreakers are out on the streets again, free to commit
even more heinous crimes.  It seems that many of today’s lawbreakers are nothing
more than career criminals.  You and I, as taxpayers, foot the bill for their care and
feeding much of the time.  And for that investment, what do we get?  More crime,
more frustration, more burned-out cops.

But Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County Arizona believes he has a better way.  And
for his crime-fighting efforts, he’s re-elected time and time again.

What is the secret of Sheriff Joe’s success?  To put it bluntly, he treats criminals like
criminals.  The convicts in his charge lose the precious privileges they might have at
other correctional institutions.

For instance, they have no right to smoke.  They have no right to read pornographic
magazines.  They have no write to bulk themselves up with state-of-the-art
weightlifting equipment.  And they have no right to see “R” movies in the cellblocks.

Oh—and they have to pay for their meals—just like the rest of us do.  Shocking?
Maybe.  But I say it’s a good shock to the system, one that just might reduce the
repeat offender rate.

The sheriff’s inmates are required to work on county and city projects, providing
local governments with no-cost labor.  Interestingly enough, Sheriff Joe even started
chain gangs for women so he would not be sued for discrimination.

Initially, he eliminated cable TV from jail, until he discovered there was a federal
court order to require it.  When he hooked up the cable again, he only permitted two
stations:  Disney and the Weather Channel.   Cruel and unusual punishment?
Hardly.  That’s the type of punishment you’d give your seventeen-year-old for
refusing to mow the lawn.

The sheriff even went so far as to purchase the Newt Gingrich lecture series, which
he plays in the jails.  When a reporter asked him if he had a lecture series by a
Democrat, he noted that a Democratic lecture series might explain why many of the
inmates where in jail in the first place.

When inmates complained after the sheriff took away their coffee (which has no
nutritional value), he responded, “This isn’t the Ritz-Carlton.  If you don’t like it,
don’t come back.”

Convicts are human beings and they deserve to be treated with dignity.  However,
the fact of the matter is they have broken the law and many of them have little
respect for law enforcement officers, their own grandmothers, and even themselves.
Criminals do not need coddling.  They need discipline.  If their parents or caregivers
failed to supply it when they were young, it’s up to people like Sheriff Joe to supply
it in the best way he knows how.

Liberals may cringe at the sheriff’s tent city jails, but the accommodations are
certainly no worse than what our brave fighting men and women face in Iraq and
other hot spots around the world.  Sheriff Joe issued his own fighting words when
he said, “It’s 120 degrees in Iraq and our soldiers are living in tents too, and they
have to wear full battle gear, but they didn’t commit any crimes, so shut your
damned mouths!”

We need more Sheriff Joes—jail keepers who are not afraid to run their jails like,
well, jails.  To make a criminal understand the severity of his actions…to make him
see that only misery awaits him if he violates the law again…is actually the
responsible, loving thing to do.

True, it’s tough love—but sometimes that’s the only kind of love that works.

Nathan Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North
Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in public
policy. He is a contributing editor at http://www.theconservativevoice.com and his 60-
second commentaries are heard on over 250 stations daily. Visit http://www.aconservativemoment.com to hear them. You can contact him at
Nathan@nathantabor.com.

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DUI Laws and Drunk Driving Consequences

November 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Cary Bergeron

States are cracking down on drunk driving. DUI and DWI laws across the nation are becoming stricter and being enforced with greater diligence. Why is drunk driving such as big deal? What happens to your body when you drink that makes driving so dangerous?

Alcohol slows the brain by acting as a depressant. When you drink, some of the messages your senses are sending to your brain are suppressed. That means you the fact that the car in front of you is stopping may not register with your brain, or it may register far to late for you to act. Alcohol in your system also makes you have a distorted picture of how you are moving. You may think, for instance, that you are moving in a straight line, when, in fact, you are staggering across the room. When you are driving, this makes it almost impossible to drive straight down the road.

When you drink and drive, you are putting yourself at risk. Many drink drivers are killed because of their poor driving skills. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car wrecks are the leading cause of death for people in America who are under the age of 24, and about 40 percent of those deaths are somehow related to alcohol. Many of those in this statistic were the drivers or passengers of drunk drivers.

So just how dangerous is it to drive drunk? Having a blood alcohol content of just .10, a tiny bit over the legal limit, puts you at seven times higher of a risk for being involved in a crash that kills someone. If that level is raised to just .15, the risk increases to 25 times.

What about driving with a little bit of alcohol in your system? What if you are driving under the legal limit? Are you still putting yourself and people around you at risk?

Believe it or not, you could be. A blood alcohol content of .04, for instance, can increase the likelihood of someone being involved in a car crash by 1.4 times. Every drink that is added to that person’s system increases the risk dramatically. Doubling the blood alcohol level to .08 increases the risk of a car crash to 11 times more likely. So having “just one more” could bring devastating consequences.

So before you jump in the car after a party, stop and think about the risk. Are you ready to live with the knowledge that your actions killed someone? Are you willing to put your own life and the lives of your passengers at risk? If not, pass the keys to someone who did not drink or call a taxi. The rest of the community will thank you.

To learn more about the DUI Laws for your state or the Arkansas DUI Laws And Consequences visit DUIConsequences.com

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Can You Drink and Avoid the DUI Laws

November 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Cary Bergeron

Because everyone’s bodies are different and the law needs a place to draw the line, drunk driving laws in every state have a set blood alcohol content level that is considered “drunk driving.” This is .08 in most states. However, many people can be drunk with levels far below this, and the amount of alcohol it takes to reach the “legal limit” according to DUI laws varies from person to person. For this reason, it is best to never drive after drinking.

When does impairment begin? We know that .08 is an unsafe level because once blood alcohol content reaches this point drivers are 11 times more likely to be involved in a car accident. However, what about a blood alcohol content of .02? Is this considered “safe” to drive?

When researchers look at blood alcohol levels to determine what is safe, participants with blood alcohol levels of .02 are already showing a loss of judgment. This is the point where alcohol helps you to relax and enjoy yourself. You do not yet feel drunk, but you are able to party a little harder. However, when you step behind the wheel of a car, you will suffer from lowered visual functions. You will also find it difficult to multitask. This means that simply reaching down to turn on the radio while you are driving could be too difficult for you, causing you to be in a crash.

What about a couple more drinks? Let’s say that your blood alcohol content increases to .05. At this level, you can expect to see exaggerated actions, inability to focus your eyes quickly, less alertness, less inhibition, and more impaired judgment. Your coordination is greatly reduced, which is particularly dangerous when you are driving. Your response in an emergency situation is going to be very slow, putting those around you at severe risk. Yet at .05 you are still far below the legal DWI limit.

The good news for other people on the road is that most states have DUI laws that allow the officer at the scene of a crime to arrest you for DUI even if your blood alcohol content level is less than .08. Of course, many drivers are able to get out of these convictions with a skilled DUI attorney, but this will require quite a bit of money out of your pocket, and you will still live with the consequences of causing an accident. If you are going to drink, designate a driver. Even just one or two drinks can severely limit your ability to function behind the wheel of a vehicle.

To find out more about DUI Laws be sure to visit http://www.DUIConsequences.com Also if you are looking for Pennsylvania DUI Laws our site has that too.

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What Should You Know About DUI?

November 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By James M Peterson -

DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence. Because the way definition is phrased, there is a great deal of local interpretation as to what “under the influence” really means. Drivers are often arrested because of a cop’s suspicion. This can happen even if the individual passed a Breathalyzer test. The police may try to make examples out of sober drivers in order to deter future incidents of actual drunk driving.

It is not against the law to drink moderately and then drive home once sober. Nevertheless, drivers may face accusations of DUI and suffer severe penalties. Some drivers have been locked up in jail, had their license suspended or have been forced to pay high fees to both lawyers and the state. A conviction will make your car insurance rates soar and may even affect your future employment.

This is why it’s important for accused drivers to consult with a qualified DUI attorney to discuss their legal options. Do not be content with the attorney provided for you by the state. Do not assume that the charges you’re facing fit the crime committed. The most experienced lawyers do charge a fee, but statistically get better results. An experienced attorney can plead not guilty and fight for your rights if you were wrongfully charged. Even if you were guilty of drunk driving, he or she can help you get a fair and balanced sentence.

Visit 1800DUILaws.com to find a reliable DUI attorney. 1800DUILaws.com screens its listed attorneys, ensuring that they have a minimum experience level of five years and that they specialize in these cases. You are fighting for your right to drive, so take advantage of all your resources.

1800DUILaws.com contains an extensive directory of skilled [http://www.1800duilaws.com/forms/statesduilaws.asp]DUI attorneys. To get legal help on a DUI charge, visit http://www.1800duilaws.com/

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Celebs Seem to Love Drunk Driving

November 11, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Darrell Freeman

Often we laugh at these strange antics of these celebs, but sometimes these antics are of a more serious nature especially when it comes to drink driving which seems to be a favorite pastime of some top flight and has-been celebs across the country.

Take the case of American supermodel Caprice Bourret who was taken in after being stopped for being over the limit in Holborn, London. The Surreal Life star got a taste of real life when she was stopped at 4am on Tottenham Court Road.

She of course is not alone or the first star to land in drink driving hot water. Football legend George Best eventually became more of a ledged for his drinking abilities than his football prowess. He managed to get pulled over, again, on the A3 in Merton, south-west London. Police spotted what they later said was someone driving in a wild and reckless manor with no regard for other road users. His fine was £1,500 and he also received a driving ban for 20 months.

Star Wars character R2-D2 was in fact the outer shell of tiny actor Kenny Baker, the 70 year old was pulled over for driving his Mercedes in an erratic manor. He was then found to have a massive 92 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millimetres of blood.

Seventies pop idol Shakin’ Stevens managed to get himself a driving ban when he was caught in his car on New Years Day with 83 milligram’s of alcohol in his blood, the legal limit was just 35mg’s.

It was also a Blue day when boy-band pop star Lee Ryan disappointed his hordes of screaming fans by driving his Porsche through central London while over the limit this was his second offence.

The star of the highly popular comedy Cold Feet, John Thomson managed to receive a three year driving ban after his second conviction in less than five years.

In the 80′s Keith Floyd was famous for his boozy chef antics but in the modern world the 60 year old managed to get himself banned for nearly three years and a hefty £1,500 fine when he admitted being drunk when his car was involved in a head on crash while he was more than three times over the limit.

Another football star who seems to like appearing in court on a drink driving offence nearly as much as playing on the field is Jermaine Pennant. The then 22 year old, appeared in Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court charged with driving while disqualified and without insurance and over the legal limit – poor Jermaine should have taken some advice on drink driving. He managed to get out of prison after a month but won the distinction of being the first player to go onto the pitch wearing a GPS tracking bracelet.

Darrell F writing about advice on http://www.freemankeepondriving.com/excess-alcohol.asp]drink driving and [http://www.freemankeepondriving.com/excess-alcohol.asp]driving driving offence.

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Protect Yourself – Hire a DWI Lawyer

October 28, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By Caitlina Fuller

If you live in Texas you know that Texas law does not take kindly to those that drink and drive. If you were recently pulled over and arrested for driving while intoxicated and charged with DWI you may be embarrassed, ashamed, and not really know what to do. We all make mistakes from time to time, some bigger than others, but most of them simply blow over and we learn from the experience. A DWI charge is not something that is just going to blow over. You are going to have to go to court and depending on your record you may spend time in jail and you may even have to do community service and take part in an educational course about the safe use of alcohol. If you have been charged with DWI you need to hire a Dallas DIW lawyer to help you protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome in your case.

After you have been arrested you are obviously stressed and the last thing that you probably want to think about is a lawyer or legal problems, but this is not just a problem that is going to go away. In the state of Texas a DWI charge is a very serious thing and it is something that you are going to need help dealing with. You will find that the legal system can be hard to navigate without a bit of professional help, and that is where a Dallas DUI attorney will come in handy as you work your way through the process.

Wondering what an attorney can do for you? They can help prepare you for your appearance in front of the court. An attorney can also help you determine what sort of punishment you may be looking at, and they can help to reduce this punishment with their knowledge of the law. For instance, if you are looking at jail time a lawyer may be able to help you negotiate with the court so that you only have to do community service or pay a fine. This isn’t something that anyone would want to do, but it would be better than spending time in jail when you have a job, kids to take care of, and bills to pay.

Wondering where you can find Dallas DWI attorneys? You can find them by asking your friends or even your family members if they have worked with anyone in the past or know of anyone good. Word of mouth is often the best way to find a lawyer, but if you don’t want to ask or they don’t know anyone, you can simply turn to the phone book or the internet yellow pages and do a search. You should meet with several attorneys and decide for yourself which one is not only affordable to you, but is willing to take your case seriously so you can learn from this mistake, repay your debt to society, and move past it once and for all.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. If you have been charged with DWI you need to hire a [http://dwi.dfwattorneys.com/]Dallas DWI lawyer to help you protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome in your case. You will find that the legal system can be hard to navigate without a bit of professional help, and that is where a DUI attorney will come in handy as you work your way through the process.

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Types of Bail Bonds

October 25, 2008 By Leave a Comment

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine]Joseph Devine

If you have gotten arrested and need to get a bond to get you or a family member out of jail, you need to know what kinds of bonds are available and the details of each one.

The first type of bond is a personal recognizance bond or a PR bond. This type of bond can be very good for first time offenders with no prior record of any kind. This is basically a personal agreement that you will still show up on the court date you were assigned. A judge will often accept this type of bond for a first time offender who doesn’t seem to be a flight risk. You are required to sign a piece of paper that agrees to everything they tell you about your court date and not leaving town. This contract often includes a few other items that the court will discuss with you before you have to sign. After you sign, you are free to go.

For those who have no prior offenses, I would suggest going toward this type of bond because then you would not have to pay a large sum to the court.

The next type of bond is a cash bond. This type of bond is pretty straight forward but is not always for everyone. A cash bond is just paying the bail amount in full in cash. Usually there are not many people that can afford to pay for their bail with cash so this bond isn’t used by all people. Some of the different courthouses will offer an option for paying by credit card or even by check, depending on what courthouse it is.

This bond can be very helpful for those that have enough money to take care of the bail amount.

The last type of bond is a Surety or Bail Bond. This type of bond can be a little complicated. If you cannot afford a cash bond, then you have to go to a bail bondsman. A bail Bondsman is a person who will loan you the money for your hearing for a certain amount of money. Your outside source will have to go find a bail bondsman and then sign the paperwork. The bail bondsman will also have to bring the paperwork to you so you can sign it as well. This signature is basically saying that on the date you were assigned by the court, you will come back and appear at your assigned time. This is also a kind of guarantee that you won’t leave town or fail to appear at your court date.

For those who are considered a flight risk, this is probably going to be the option you have to turn to.

If you or someone you know is in need of help in their criminal case, contact the Austin DWI Lawyers of Morales and Navarrete at http://www.dwi-lawyers-austin.com

Joseph Devine

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