| The facts about driving drunk include consideration of | | | | Here are some helpful drunk driving facts: |
| consequences: Punishment for Driving Under the | | | | • One person is killed every half-hour due to drunk |
| Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or | | | | driving |
| driving drunk, will vary, based on geographic locale and | | | | • Each year approximately 16,000 are killed in |
| law in that state or county as well as which country | | | | alcohol related crashes |
| you find yourself in. The potential consequences will | | | | • Alcohol is a factor in almost half of all traffic |
| depend upon whether or not it is the first offense, and | | | | fatalities |
| whether various punishment enhancements may apply. | | | | • Every other minute a person is seriously injured in |
| Generally, for a first offense DUI or DWI, penalties will | | | | an alcohol related crash |
| include a fine, possible jail time or community service, a | | | | What Are Some Examples of DUI Penalties? |
| driver's license restriction, and mandatory attendance | | | | DUI punishment varies from state to state, so you'll |
| at an alcohol and drug education program. | | | | need to check with your lawyer to see what may |
| Why Drunk Drivers Are Dangerous: Imaging studies of | | | | apply in your particular state. Using California DUI |
| the brain when it is under the influence of alcohol | | | | penalties as an example, first offenders who are |
| reveal that different areas of the brain are impaired | | | | denied probation can expect the following: |
| under high and low levels of alcohol, according to a | | | | 1. 48 hours of jail time minimum. |
| Yale study published in Neuropsychopharmacology. | | | | 2. 6 months driver's license suspension |
| "What we found is that when people were really | | | | 3. $340 fine |
| intoxicated, they drove like they were really intoxicated | | | | As you can see, DUI penalties are fairly harsh, even |
| and in a real vehicle," Pearlson said. "They speeded up, | | | | for a first offense. There are things that can factor in |
| especially on corners, where most people slow down, | | | | to a first time offense, depending on your state. |
| and crashed more often into other vehicles." When | | | | Driver's license suspension may be part of the |
| mildly intoxicated, but below the legal alcohol limit, he | | | | package, but if you get probation, your state may |
| said, the drivers seemed aware of the fact that they | | | | allow you to keep your license provided you meet |
| were impaired and corrected for the deficit. The | | | | certain conditions set by the court. These can include |
| researchers also found that alcohol had a profound | | | | rehab counseling, safe driver classes, and community |
| effect on some, but not all, brain circuits activated in | | | | service. Your lawyer will have more information, but |
| sober driving. | | | | make sure you understand what you are committing |
| The highest blood alcohol level was 0.1 and the lowest | | | | yourself to under a probation agreement. Violation of |
| was 0.05. Drivers are considered legally drunk when | | | | probation is taken quite seriously and can result in |
| their blood alcohol level is 0.08. | | | | automatic driver license suspension and jail time. |