| DUI laws now entail reform which will continue to | | | | whereby under specific circumstances if a police |
| sweep the nation. In the past it was a few states that | | | | officer who senses a motorist may be intoxicated to |
| took the forefront when it came to arrests and | | | | the point they exceed the legal limit (in most states is |
| prosecutions. Some instances may have seemed | | | | .08 for Blood Alcohol Content), then the motorist is |
| onerous or even is some cases unconstitutional. Yet, | | | | subject to immediate imprisonment if they do not |
| despite opposition. Many of these changes in legislation | | | | agree to a field chemical test. The motorist in some |
| are now law. | | | | scenarios is then taken to the police station whereby a |
| Myriad states have been under serious pressure to | | | | round the clock rotating judge system awaits them. It |
| lower the thresholds for evidentiary prosecution and to | | | | could be adjudicated that a blood sample be drawn |
| raise the bar in regards to ramifications and | | | | voluntarily or involuntarily. |
| punishments. Activist groups like SADD and MADD | | | | If the above sounds over the top to you, you are by |
| have for many years led the charge for reform and | | | | no means in the minority. Few individuals realize that |
| are no longer small groups with a weak cry. In fact, | | | | the majority of states require a series of implied |
| they are well organized and well funded. The type of | | | | concessions to receive a driver's license in their state. |
| resources they wield equates to political clout. | | | | You have agreed to many of the procedures and |
| It is no secret that politicians whether incumbents or | | | | potential consequences as a predicate to the issuance |
| those up for first time election make DUI reform part | | | | of your license. |
| of their political platform. This is despite opposition by | | | | These laws are sometimes referred to as a violation |
| civil rights groups who will argue that many of the | | | | of the state's per se laws. In addition, most states are |
| changes border on violations of civil rights. Many of the | | | | now moving to what is called an actual physical control |
| tactics and procedures being used in the majority of | | | | state. This means any individual, not just the driver, |
| the United States by police officers and sheriff | | | | may be prosecuted. The law stipulates that an |
| departments have been characterized as being | | | | individual must have exclusive physical power and |
| Draconian and at minimum onerous. | | | | present ability to operate, move, park or direct |
| The opposition has achieved little traction in their | | | | whatsoever a motor vehicle. |
| efforts to dilute widespread reform as it is has | | | | Types of DUI laws can be complex and confusing. If a |
| become clearly politically incorrect to appear to | | | | person is asleep or simply sitting in a motor vehicle |
| condone drunk driving especially when so many states | | | | they may be guilty of DUI. It is critical that you research |
| can tout death rates due to alcohol related accidents | | | | and hire a quality DUI attorney. Do not settle for deals |
| diminishing at an unprecedented rate. These statistics | | | | or vague promises of success. The cold truth is that |
| have been the impetus to quickly attract some of the | | | | the prosecution is not looking to find you innocent. A |
| states that were lagging in DUI reform. | | | | skilled and experienced DUI attorney is paramount in |
| Some states have actually initiated test programs | | | | order to have a chance for a positive outcome. |