Drive While Intoxicated

If you are someone who occasionally goes out for a drink after work, then you might be surprised to hear that on the way home you could possibly face a DWI, or driving while intoxicated, charge. This can happen even if you don’t think you are impaired. Due to the pressure put on state governments by groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, also known as MADD, the laws regarding drinking and driving have become tougher. An additional bonus is that this also boosts revenue for the states.

The sad fact is that in fatal accidents where drunk driving was a factor the state laws don’t differentiate between the “couple after work” and the alcoholic downing a twelve pack after work. Both types of drinkers are treated the same and both, particularly on the first offense, will be subject to penalties, fines and jail time so you will need an attorney, just another expense.

After the BAC was lowered in most states to 0.08%, people who owned bars saw business drastically decline. This is because that level is for most people equal to only two beers in just an hour or less. The legal fees associated with drunk driving can be quite a lot and that is without adding the expenses associated with the mandatory SATOP course. That alone can be a couple hundred dollars and then there is also the required administrative suspending of your driver’s license. This is for a minimum of thirty days and that is only what comes before you have your day in court and are found guilty.

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.

The next charge that comes into play is DUI (Driving Under the Influence). This comes into play when it is obvious to the police that you have had a drink, but failed to test out at .08. Just one sip of alcohol can accomplish this because of the odor. Thus all the same expenses occur, just the same ones that would the habitual drinker.

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.

Since it would require someone in the group to drive and thereby not allowing them to party, most drinkers refuse to put this kind of pressure on their friends. They don’t go along with this idea, because they don’t think it is fair for the person who will have to abstain from drinking alcohol. However, if you are a drinker then you will just have to learn to accept this due to the DWI laws in existence.

The standard in the majority of states is a mandatory license suspension, whether you were found guilty or not. If you are reading this it is a good guess your interest is because you have gotten a DWI or DUI, so for starters be prepared to spend a lot of money even if you haven’t been found guilty.