The Dangers and Penalties Of
Drinking and Driving

Drunk driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to the degree that mental and motor skills are impaired. Drunk driving is illegal in all jurisdictions of the United States.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that approximately 40 percent of all traffic related deaths in 2004 were related to alcohol. Intoxication is determined by the levels of alcohol in the blood, which is call the blood alcohol concentration or BAC. A BAC of .01 is enough to cause impairment and cause a traffic incident to be determined as alcohol related.

In most states a BAC of .08 or greater will get a person arrested and determined to be under the influence of alcohol. Some states include a lesser charge of intoxication, which includes a BAC of .05 to .07. All states have a zero tolerance policy for drivers under the age of 21 because alcohol consumption is illegal before that time.

Often times a person under the age of 21 will lose his or her driving license if they are caught purchasing alcohol or even consuming alcohol regardless of whether or not they are in a vehicle or driving at the time. Many jurisdictions employ much higher penalties for anyone whose BAC is .20 or higher even if they did not cause a traffic incident but were simply operating a motor vehicle.

To be able to drive at this level of intoxication the person would have to have been getting drunk regularly for many years to build up enough tolerance to the alcohol and more than likely the person would have driven drunk previously as well. All drunk driving offenses carry possible jail terms. However, most first offenders are given lesser sentences such as driver license suspension or restriction, fines, mandatory driving classes, and alcohol counseling.

Some jurisdictions sentence all drunk drivers to jail no matter what the situation. Most recently, states have begun to use the breath test that is installed in the offenders vehicle. In order to start the car the driver must breathe into the device. If the person is intoxicated, the car will not start. Many states impose higher sentences on people who are transporting children, have open containers of alcohol in their vehicles, or who are driving in a particularly reckless or dangerous manner.

Habitual drivers also receive stricter sentences. For example in Michigan, a third offense is an automatic felony and an automatic five-year jail sentence.

Did You Know

In recent years, states have tried to become more unified in the way they handle drunken driving situations in an effort to make the laws more uniform from state to state. Because of the increase in drunken driving occurrences, the states are also making the penalties for doing so much stricter than ever before. First offenders are being penalized more than in recent years in an effort to teach them not to ever drive under the influence again. Multiple offenders are receive extremely strict sentences as well so that they cannot offend again and possible do more damage.

Interesting Facts

Driving under the influence of alcohol decreases a persons ability to react appropriately in driving situations and slows reflections and reaction time. These people are not able to make driving decisions that are necessary to avoid accidents or to simply be safe in general. Drunk driving can cause, major property damage as well as severely injure or fatally wound other people. Many times the drunk person walks away from the accident unharmed because of the relaxation effect of the alcohol on the body.

Alcoholism in the News

09/05/2008
Former Fresno DA learned law the hard way (The Fresno Bee)
William Ardell "Bill" Smith, a former Fresno County district attorney, then a renowned defense attorney, admitted to struggles with chronic alcoholism that never eclipsed his reputation for character and honesty in his professional and personal life.

Former Fresno DA learned law the hard way (The Fresno Bee)

09/05/2008
For Even Healthy Men, Alcohol Seems to Lower Heart Attack Risk (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)
FRIDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Suppose you're a healthy, physically fit, nonsmoking male. Your risk of heart attack is already low. Would having a drink or two of alcohol a day provide any additional protective benefit?

For Even Healthy Men, Alcohol Seems to Lower Heart Attack Risk (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)

09/05/2008
Man charged in restaurant deaths had suffered brain injury, court hears (CBC via Yahoo! Canada News)
A Maple Ridge, B.C., man accused of killing two women after crashing a truck into a sushi restaurant had suffered a recent head injury that required brain surgery, the court heard Friday.

Man charged in restaurant deaths had suffered brain injury, court hears (CBC via Yahoo! Canada News)

09/04/2008
More off-premise alcohol outlets can lead to more injuries among neighborhood children (EurekAlert!)
( Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research ) Injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages one to 14 in the United States. A first-of-its-kind study shows that numerous off-premise alcohol outlets in neighborhoods can reduce overall guardianship of children's activities, leading to increased injuries.

More off-premise alcohol outlets can lead to more injuries among neighborhood children (EurekAlert!)

09/05/2008
Video: Legalize it? (The Daily News)
A recent string of local and regional marijuana busts has sparked a lively debate within our story comments regarding the benefits and/or problems associated with the legalization of marijuana.

Video: Legalize it? (The Daily News)

09/05/2008
Man charged in restaurant deaths had suffered brain injury, court hears (CBC via Yahoo! Canada News)
A Maple Ridge, B.C., man accused of killing two women after crashing a truck into a sushi restaurant had suffered a recent head injury that required brain surgery, the court heard Friday.

Man charged in restaurant deaths had suffered brain injury, court hears (CBC via Yahoo! Canada News)

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Better Your Health

Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem


◦	What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse

◦	The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse

◦	What is the Attraction To Alcohol

◦	FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1

◦	FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2

◦	A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism

◦	Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus

◦	The Brain And Alcohol

◦	Health Risks For Women Alcoholics

◦	Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic

◦	How A Child See's Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism Detoxification Steps

◦	Alcoholism and the Workplace

◦	The Children of Alcoholics

◦	Common Questions About Alcoholism

◦	Tests for Alcohol Use

◦	Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center

◦	The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving

◦	The War On Drunk Driving

◦	How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help

◦	Some Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

◦	Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal

◦	Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking

◦	A Portrait Of An Alcoholic

◦	The Symptoms of Alcoholism

◦	Basic Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Hard Facts About Alcoholism

◦	Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer

◦	The College Campus And Alcoholism

◦	Dangers of Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6

◦	Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12

◦	What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout

◦	New Shot to Treat Alcoholism

◦	Alcoholism's Physical Effects

◦	Group Support For Alcoholism

◦	Threats From Alcoholism

◦	The Truth About Alcoholism

◦	Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism

◦	Treatments for Alcoholism

◦	Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic

◦	Recovering From Alcoholism

◦	Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic

◦	What Is Alcholism

◦	Family Members Drinking Too Much

◦	Explain Alcoholism

◦	Who Are The Alcoholics

◦	Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism

◦	Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family

◦	Health Consequences Of Alcoholism

◦	Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism

◦	Screening Tests For Alcoholism

◦	What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism

◦	How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA

◦	The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous

◦	Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable

◦	The Causes of Alcoholism

◦	So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?

◦	Is Alcoholism Hereditary

◦	What Children Need to Know About Alcohol

◦	How to Recognize When Children are Drinking

◦	What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic

◦	How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight

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The Dangers and Penalties Of
Drinking and Driving