| When you are caught by a law enforcement officer | | | | enforcement officer will probably take you into |
| for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, | | | | custody at the local police station. Depending on |
| a chain reaction of legal steps ensues. Drunk driving is | | | | previous charges, it is likely someone will have to pick |
| a serious offense. Every state requires blood alcohol | | | | you up or you will have to sleep overnight at the |
| content (BAC) of drivers to be .08% or less. Some | | | | station to sober up. |
| states, including Rhode Island, have stricter | | | | Following a DUI charge, several types of punishment |
| requirements and penalties for drivers under the legal | | | | may be leveled against you. Common consequences |
| drinking age of 21. Additionally, several states have | | | | include license suspension, car impoundment, fines, and |
| harsher punishments for drivers with extremely high | | | | court dates. Generally, a judge or jury decides your |
| BAC levels over .15%. | | | | fate, unless the law specifically dictates a certain type |
| If a police officer stops you for driving after excessive | | | | of punishment. Prior DUI convictions worsen new |
| alcohol consumption, you will generally be asked to | | | | offense punishments, with the third DUI in many states |
| perform field sobriety tests or an actual sobriety test | | | | counting as a felony. Additional sentencing possibilities |
| to measure your level of intoxication. Various testing | | | | include drug or alcohol treatment, community service, |
| options exist, including blood, breath, and urine. Most | | | | parole time, rising insurance rates, and installation of an |
| states have implied consent laws about sobriety tests | | | | ignition interlock device in your vehicle. |
| - if you get behind the wheel of a car, you are implying | | | | After a conviction, some states will allow for a |
| consent to take an alcohol test on the spot if | | | | temporary license reinstatement, assuming good |
| requested. The driver usually has a choice of tests. | | | | behavior and continued liability insurance. Provisional |
| Breath testing is easier to fault for accuracy than | | | | reinstatements vary greatly between states, judges, |
| blood tests but breathalyzers do not scan for the | | | | and individual circumstances. Hiring a lawyer can help |
| presence of other drugs. If you refuse the test or | | | | alleviate some of the stress associated with the legal |
| have a BAC level over the state limit, the law | | | | consequences of DUI charges. |