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Every
state in the
United States
has
DUI
laws
about drunk
driving or
driving while
intoxicated
(DWI). This may
include driving
after a few
cocktails or a
few beers but
you can also be
charged with
DUI/DWI if
you're pulled
over and the
law enforcement
officer
suspects that
you are driving
while under the
influence of
prescription or
illicit/illegal
drugs.
Regardless,
anyone charged
with driving
drunk or drunk
driving can
face serious
consequences.
One of the
leading states
trying to
combat drunk
driving
includes
California. In
fact, the
golden state
was one of the
first states to
lower the blood
alcohol limit
(BAC) to .08,
which is one of
the most
restrictive
laws in the
USA. Not
surprising,
other states
were soon to
follow with the
same legal
requirements to
be charged with
drunk driving
or DUI/DWI.
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What
Does
.08
Mean?
BAC is
an
acronym
for
Blood
Alcohol
Content.
This
is
determined
by
subjective
sobriety
field
tests
of the
driver's
impairment,
or
measurement
of his
blood
alcohol
content
(BAC).
Measured
in
terms
of
milligrams
of
alcohol
per
milliliters
of
blood,
or as
a
percentage.
(10
mg/100
ml =
0.01
g/100
g =
0.01
%).
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Driving under
the influence
(DUI) , driving
while
intoxicated
(DWI) drunk
driving or
drinking then
driving, is
known as an act
of operating a
motor vehicle
(and sometimes
a bicycle or
similar
human-powered
vehicle) after
having consumed
alcohol or
legal/illegal
drugs, to the
degree that
your mental and
motor skills
are
impaired.
In
addition to
driving under
the influence
of alcohol and
driving under
the influence
(DUI) of other
drugs, a third
"DUI" offense
consists of
driving under
the combined
influence of
alcohol and
other drugs.
The drugs
causing or
contributing to
the impairment
need not be
illegal and can
consist of
doctor-prescribed
or
over-the-counter
medication
which can be
purchased at
the corner
pharmacy.
Since the early
1980's,
anti-drunk
driving
organizations
such Mother
Against Drunk
Driving (MADD)
and public
service
campaigns have
aimed to raise
awareness of
the legal
implications
and dangers of
driving while
intoxicated
(DWI). Sad to
say, driving
drunk is
responsible for
a large number
of deaths,
injuries,
damage and
accidents every
year in the
United States.
Every single
day, thousands
of drivers are
arrested for
allegedly
operating a
vehicle while
being
intoxicated.
Depending on
your
jurisdiction
(location of
the offense),
the driving
offense may
referred to as
driving while
intoxicated
(DWI),
operating while
intoxicated
(OWI),
operating a
motor vehicle
while
intoxicated
(OMVI), driving
under the
influence
[of alcohol
or other
drugs]
(DUI), driving
under the
combined
influence of
alcohol and/or
other drugs or
drunk in
charge. Such
laws typically
apply to those
operating a
boat or
piloting an
airplane.
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Typical
Drunk
Driving
Law
CVC
23153. (a)
It is
unlawful
for
any
person,
while
under
the
influence
of any
alcoholic
beverage
or
drug,
or
under
the
combined
influence
of any
alcoholic
beverage
and
drug,
to
drive
a
vehicle
and
concurrently
do any
act
forbidden
by
law,
or
neglect
any
duty
imposed
by law
in
driving
the
vehicle,
which
act or
neglect
proximately
causes
bodily
injury
to any
person
other
than
the
driver.
(b)
It is
unlawful
for
any
person,
while
having
0.08
percent
or
more,
by
weight,
of
alcohol
in his
or her
blood
to
drive
a
vehicle
and
concurrently
do any
act
forbidden
by
law,
or
neglect
any
duty
imposed
by law
in
driving
the
vehicle,
which
act or
neglect
proximately
causes
bodily
injury
to any
person
other
than
the
driver.
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If you're
facing with
driving drunk
or drunk
driving, we
have a series
of legal links
which can help
you with a DWI
or DUI charge.
Regardless,
most drivers
should
seriously
consider
contacting a
drunk driving
lawyer or
attorney who
can explain the
options you
have as driver.
Because drunk
driving is a
serious
offense, don't
be fooled into
thinking you
can fight the
drunk driving
(DUI-DWI)
charge by
yourself. So
many times,
drivers who
want to save
money are
ill-prepared
with developing
a real legal
defense on
their own.
Don't make that
mistake.
You could lose
your driver's
license if
you're not
properly
prepared or
have no
attorney on
your side.
Think
wisely.
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