DUI, or driving under the influence, is a very common problem among teenagers today. Too often we hear about several people meeting their deaths on the road because of this. Most of the time, they weren't even the ones driving. That's why it's necessary to arm yourself with the necessary information about DUI, to tell other people about it, and hopefully, with your knowledge, prevent more accidents on the road.
People who know about DUI usually just think that the influence is alcohol. That DUI is synonymous with drunk driving. Maybe so. The actual thing is, over-the-counter decongestants can also affect your driving skills. Not only that, illegal drugs also obviously fit the bill of DUI.
The worst thing about DUI is, it's not only the drunk driver that's affected. Remember, the intoxicated driver is on the open road. He may bump into other cars, he may affect pedestrians on the road, and most of all, he may affect his very own passengers. That's why for your own safety you should never, ever get into a car if the driver has been drinking.
Statistics show that the kind of people most charged with DUI are males within the age bracket of sixteen to twenty-four. They are heavy drinkers and have an average performance academically. Although most drunk drivers fall under these characteristics, it's just as easy for anyone else to be driving drunk.
Yet, armed with all this knowledge, and aware of all the dangers, DUI is still rampant up to today. Why? Well, there are several reasons. First, Alcohol-induced loss of judgement. This could be the biggest reason DUI is still at large today. After three or four drinks, a person's judgement is undermined by alcohol. A second reason for DUI could be lack of planning. To avoid DUI, you must figure out how to get back if you plan on drinking. The most common solution is to have a designated driver who doesn't drink and can take those who have been drinking home. Thirdly, rationalization leads to DUI. How many times have you heard the excuses, "I've made it home drunk before, I can sure as hell do it again," or, "My home is only a few minutes away. What could happen?" These thoughts have only crossed drunk drivers one too many times.
Another reason DUI is so common, is sadly, lack of education; although due to its alarming rate more information has been spread about it. Too much emphasis has been put on alcohol as a main reason for DUI, all the while disregarding other drugs such as cough syrup or marijuana.
Lastly, pressure is a huge factor that leads to many DUI cases. Considering that it is most teenagers who drink and drive, the last thing they would want to do is inform their parents that they need a ride home from drinking too much, or staying over at a friend's house for the night for the same reason. This is stirred by fear but of course, anyone would rather bear these inconveniences compared to staying over at the morgue or being picked up off the road... dead, unfortunately.
At the very least, DUI charge can lead to license suspension. At the very worst, DUI can take away several lives. It's important to take your precautions. DUI is reason enough not to trust anyone on the road.
Driving Under The Influence
Every year millions of people in the United States get convicted of Driving under the Influence (DUI). This a crime and often times these drunk drivers maim or kill people due to them not being in the right capacity to operate their motor vehicle. This article will examine what exactly is a DUI and the different sentences associated with it under the state of Alabama. It will also look at the issue of obtaining car insurance once you have been convicted of a DUI in Alabama.
It is a crime to drive drunk and this is often times called driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), this all depends on the state and how they define it. In the state of Alabama it is known as a DUI. To be considered a drunk driver in Alabama, the driver must have a high blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher. Drunk driving kills many people a year and puts countless others at risk. This means if convicted of a DUI it carries far reaching consequences. These will be discussed below.
DUI is a crime and if you are arrested there are different sentences that can be handed down by a court in Alabama. These vary and this article will examine what they are. In the State of Alabama if you have a first offense of DUI then you may get some of the following penalties. For a first offense you may either receive one year in jail, a 90 day license suspension up to a $2,100 fine and mandatory DUI school. For a second offense you may receive one year in jail, mandatory 5 days in jail, a 1 year license suspension, a fine up to $5,100 and mandatory DUI. For your third DUI you may receive one year in jail, mandatory 60 days in jail, a 3 year license suspension, a fine up to $10,100 and mandatory DUI. Your fourth and higher DUI offense is considered a C class felony and you may receive punishment of one year and a day to 10 years in jail, a 5 year license suspension and a fine up to $10,100.
Aside from court costs, possible jail time and heavy fines people convicted of a DUI in Alabama also have to worry about their car insurance premiums increasing. Most people depend on their car and an added cost to operating one affects people tremendously. Most insurance companies check your DMV records to see if you have any accidents or been convicted of a DUI. Insurance companies in Alabama especially the city of Birmingham if they find out you have a DUI conviction will often times raise your premiums because they feel as if you are a high risk driver. This could send your Birmingham auto insurance through the roof.
Both Michael Sanford & James Dalton are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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