It's not hard to find scary drunk driving statistics and info that point towards mortal dangers and extreme legal pitfalls. That does not stop four million people in the US from getting behind their wheel 112 million times while intoxicated. This bravado costs a shade under 11,000 deaths each year, which is about one-third of all road accident fatalities.
No doubt the stats are horrifying, but there's room for hope because there has been a marked improvement over the last half of the previous decade. The figures for 2005-2010 were about 30 percent higher. The improvement is mostly due to state laws that strictly implement zero tolerance. This means a zero percent BAC or blood alcohol concentration level.
Most every driver knows what a breathalyzer is. But not many know the exact impact of a drink. A 0.02 percent BAC level causes some lack of judgment, inability to track a rapidly moving target and reduced ability to divide attention. This is the minimum BAC level that puts drivers on the wrong side of the law.
Ramp it up to . 05 percent, and the steering gets wobbly and the driver loses the ability to respond in an emergency. Go up one level to . 08 percent and there is now no control over the vehicle's speed and traffic lights are just about invisible. At . 10 percent, the driver cannot brake or stay in the same lane. Notch it up to . 15 percent and the driver is no longer aware of the situation and may be throwing up in a moving vehicle.
It is far easier to avoid getting into a vehicle after drinking. But then, the stats show that four million people do it anyway. This means any male aged 21-35 has a very good chance of being stopped for a DUI check, and many are going to fail a sobriety test or breathalyzer. For these drivers, the only way out of the pickle they are in is to accept a plea deal or contest the DUI charge on a technicality.
The law says that the police need probable cause. If it can be shown in court that the law enforcement officer who stopped the vehicle had no probable cause, then the DUI and other infractions are no longer valid. There are many such loopholes that can be used effectively in traffic court.
Even a small doubt about the legality of the stop, faulty breathalyzer, right to search, blood test, etc. Is enough to contest the DUI. But given the drunk driving statistics and info, it's better not to test fate. One alcohol-impaired driver dies every 48 minutes. Those who do survive still end up having to pay for it, with property damage and medical costs adding up to a combined $51 billion per year.
No doubt the stats are horrifying, but there's room for hope because there has been a marked improvement over the last half of the previous decade. The figures for 2005-2010 were about 30 percent higher. The improvement is mostly due to state laws that strictly implement zero tolerance. This means a zero percent BAC or blood alcohol concentration level.
Most every driver knows what a breathalyzer is. But not many know the exact impact of a drink. A 0.02 percent BAC level causes some lack of judgment, inability to track a rapidly moving target and reduced ability to divide attention. This is the minimum BAC level that puts drivers on the wrong side of the law.
Ramp it up to . 05 percent, and the steering gets wobbly and the driver loses the ability to respond in an emergency. Go up one level to . 08 percent and there is now no control over the vehicle's speed and traffic lights are just about invisible. At . 10 percent, the driver cannot brake or stay in the same lane. Notch it up to . 15 percent and the driver is no longer aware of the situation and may be throwing up in a moving vehicle.
It is far easier to avoid getting into a vehicle after drinking. But then, the stats show that four million people do it anyway. This means any male aged 21-35 has a very good chance of being stopped for a DUI check, and many are going to fail a sobriety test or breathalyzer. For these drivers, the only way out of the pickle they are in is to accept a plea deal or contest the DUI charge on a technicality.
The law says that the police need probable cause. If it can be shown in court that the law enforcement officer who stopped the vehicle had no probable cause, then the DUI and other infractions are no longer valid. There are many such loopholes that can be used effectively in traffic court.
Even a small doubt about the legality of the stop, faulty breathalyzer, right to search, blood test, etc. Is enough to contest the DUI. But given the drunk driving statistics and info, it's better not to test fate. One alcohol-impaired driver dies every 48 minutes. Those who do survive still end up having to pay for it, with property damage and medical costs adding up to a combined $51 billion per year.
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When a person is drink under the influence attitudes may change even worst becomes complicated. We cannot totally prohibit but we can minimize DUI drivers. Consult DUI lawyers for concerns.
ReplyDeleteJoseph @ section 10 drink driving
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