| Drunk driving occurs when a person takes in more | | | | zero-tolerance law on the books. These laws are |
| alcohol than their body can absorb causing them to | | | | intended specifically for minors who are driving. |
| become intoxicated after which he or she chooses to | | | | Zero-tolerance means that minors must have a blood |
| operate a motor vehicle in an impaired condition. The | | | | alcohol content level of 0.00. There can be no alcohol |
| moniker varies from state to state. It can be identified | | | | in the system of a minor at all. If this happens the minor |
| as DUI (driving under the influence), DWI (driving while | | | | is subject to stiffer penalties and consequences. Why? |
| intoxicated), or OUIL (operating a motor vehicle while | | | | First, it is unlawful for minors to ingest alcohol (although, |
| under the influence of intoxicating liquor). The call letters | | | | realistically, drinking and minors is a significant problem |
| are not important (after all a rose by any other name | | | | everywhere and a topic for another time). Secondly, |
| is still a rose) unless, of course, they are connected | | | | driving is a complicated task that requires the full |
| with your name. When this happens then they spell | | | | attention of the driver. Many difficult skills such as |
| trouble. | | | | entering the freeway from a ramp and passing a semi |
| Every 39 minutes another person loses their life in | | | | truck at seventy miles an hour take multiple tries to |
| drunken driving accidents. That's roughly 13,500 human | | | | perform them with ease and confidence. Therefore |
| beings each year – about the population of a small | | | | minors do not need any distractions. In the end, drinking |
| berg that dots the countryside of any state in the | | | | and driving is illegal and, frankly, with the plethora of |
| nation. A decade ago that number was smaller than it | | | | information meant to dissuade one from engaging in |
| is today! It is difficult to believe that despite factors | | | | the activity, stupid. |
| such as the aggressive public service campaign | | | | How does alcohol affect the body and impair driving? |
| financed by a variety of concerned organizations, | | | | When you drink alcohol it has to pass through your |
| greater legal and financial penalties for those caught | | | | stomach and small intestine before entering the |
| drinking and driving, and a highly increased awareness | | | | bloodstream and traveling to all parts of your body. |
| by law enforcement officials have done nothing to | | | | When you drink more alcohol than your body can |
| abate the statistics. (This reality simply addles the | | | | absorb naturally your brain begins to relax and your |
| mind.) Let's take a closer look at the laws and statistics | | | | judgment becomes impaired. After your system is |
| on the books in Texas. | | | | saturated with alcohol – in other words, when you're |
| Drivers with a blood alcohol content level of 0.08 are | | | | drunk – this affects your reaction time, vision, |
| considered to be intoxicated and driving drunk. A driver | | | | balance and coordination. At a party this might be |
| convicted of the offense for the first time has a | | | | amusing – behind the wheel of a car it's nothing |
| mandatory license suspension of 90 days, a second | | | | short of deadly – and when you kill someone while |
| offense and suspension time increases to 180 days. | | | | driving drunk then you have murdered them. |
| The same holds true for a third offense. In addition, | | | | In fact, if it can be proved in a court of law that a |
| there is a mandatory jail sentence for anyone who | | | | driver's intoxication was the cause of the death of |
| has been convicted of drunk driving two times (or | | | | another person then the drunk driver would be |
| more). Vehicles will be confiscated after a third | | | | charged with manslaughter or second degree murder |
| conviction and there will be no availability of a hardship | | | | and face a very long prison term. The injured party |
| license. | | | | (parties are) is also able to sue a convicted drunk |
| In a recent year available data reveals trends in drunk | | | | driver in civil court and can be awarded damages that |
| driving. For instance, one third of the drivers killed in a | | | | could strip a person of their life's savings and assets. |
| single year from driving drunk fell between the ages of | | | | These damages may not be dischargeable in a |
| 21 to 24, another third between the ages of 25-34 and | | | | bankruptcy proceeding, either. So, when an adult or |
| the final third were between the ages of 35-44. It | | | | minor chooses to drive while under the influence they |
| would appear that people heading into middle age are | | | | are making a decision that could affect their life and |
| more sensible about taking chances with driving and | | | | that of their own family in perpetuity. |
| drinking. The question is how to impose that same | | | | If you are stopped by a police officer always be polite. |
| integrity and caution into the other three age | | | | Belligerence will only exacerbate your problems. He will |
| categories. | | | | ask you if you are aware of why you were pulled |
| Another startling fact about drunk driving is that men | | | | over. The best response to this question is "No" unless |
| are four times more likely to be arrested for drunk | | | | it is obvious why you were stopped. The officer will |
| driving than women. Too, traffic deaths at night are | | | | then explain the reason he pulled you over. He may |
| four times more likely to be caused by a drunk driver | | | | ask you how much you have had to drink – he is |
| than during the day. (This would lead one to think twice | | | | looking for evidence that you are intoxicated and he |
| about running out for milk at 9:00 at night.) Finally, the | | | | should administer a sobriety test. If this happens and |
| average blood alcohol content level of a drunk driver | | | | you are driving drunk – from there it's all downhill. |
| who kills someone in an auto accident is 1.6 – double | | | | You can look forward to months of legal wrangling |
| the legal threshold for someone to be charged with | | | | and court and lawyer expenditures. There are a |
| drunk driving. | | | | thousand reasons not to drink and drive and none to |
| The state of Texas, and many others, has a | | | | support it. Don't drink and drive. |