| There are a lot of reasons that driving under the | | | | Nearly every country considers any type of criminal |
| influence (DUI) is a bad idea. And, there are some | | | | conviction a primary reason to refuse entry into their |
| hidden penalties that most people don't think about that | | | | country. Most all DUI convictions are misdemeanors |
| are pretty harsh. | | | | unless there is a death, or if you are a repeat offender. |
| Most people are unaware of any penalties for DUI | | | | Those are felonies. Some nations only have |
| beyond jail, probation, loss of drivers licenses and fines. | | | | restrictions on felonies, but some restrict ALL crime. |
| But here are some consequences that you probably | | | | Some nations may place a restriction on the number |
| haven't considered. | | | | of visits due to a DUI conviction. The decision is entirely |
| 1. Career penalties. | | | | at their discretion. |
| Many companies do a background check before hiring | | | | If you wanted to travel outside the USA after getting a |
| a new employee. It might not matter that you | | | | DUI conviction, you would have to hire an immigration |
| graduated at the top of your class. That one DUI | | | | attorney to appeal for you, which could cost you many |
| mistake might cost you your dream job, and will likely | | | | hundreds of dollars with no guarantee of success. |
| affect ALL your job prospects for at least ten years. | | | | Let's finish with a philosophical argument against laws |
| Also, many companies have company cars and | | | | that penalize a person who is driving after drinking |
| trucks. In my insurance claims industry, many claims | | | | alcohol. |
| adjusters are provided company cars with expenses | | | | Criminal law says that if you drink alcohol and drive a |
| paid. But if you've had a DUI, you can forget driving the | | | | car, you are committing a crime. But if a person who |
| company vehicles. That might cost you your job. | | | | has consumed alcohol gets in his car and drives, and |
| That career loss might cause you to have... | | | | does not injure another person or cause damage to |
| 2. Budget penalties | | | | any property, and reaches his destination, no actual |
| Your insurance premiums will skyrocket...that is, if the | | | | physical negligence has occurred. Just the mere |
| insurance company doesn't just cancel your policy. But | | | | presence of alcohol in his bloodstream should not |
| some high risk company will insure you. Then, once | | | | constitute a crime. |
| you have high premiums, they will likely stay that way | | | | Why should it be unlawful to ingest a food product, |
| for 3-5 years. They could affect your rates for as | | | | even if that food product affects your ability to drive |
| much as 10 years. | | | | safely? Many other things can be ingested by people |
| You may not be able to afford the insurance | | | | that alters their ability to drive, and there are no laws |
| premiums to drive you car. I've seen young drivers | | | | against them. If you smoke marijuana and drive, no |
| with a clean record and full coverage pay $350 per | | | | crime. Even if you fall asleep while driving, most |
| month for insurance. My son spends $170 per month | | | | jurisdictions do not have criminal statutes against |
| on a 12-year-old Volkswagen with only liability | | | | sleepiness. Prescription drugs can alter driving ability, |
| coverage. What if your insurance premium becomes | | | | but no crime is assessed. |
| more than your car payment? What will you do? | | | | However, negligence is usually not hard to prove. |
| If you're married, and there is more than one car in the | | | | Negligence is a completely different act, and drinking |
| family, you will be rated on your spouse's car also. | | | | alcohol is not negligent. Human acts that flow from |
| That might make that car unaffordable also. | | | | drinking can be negligent, but drinking alcohol is not |
| 3. Travel | | | | negligent. |
| You might have a desire to see the world. You may | | | | That's why I believe that DUI laws are wrong. Enforce |
| be a person born in another country and immigrated to | | | | criminal negligence, but not alcohol consumption. |
| America. But if you have a DUI conviction here in the | | | | Having said all that...the LAW is what the law is. |
| USA, you may not be able to travel at all, or your | | | | Disagreeing with it won't keep you out of jail. Obey the |
| travel will be severely restricted. | | | | law and lobby for the law to change. |