The War On Drunk Driving
In 2005, 16,885 people died in alcohol related vehicle crashes. This accounts for 39% of all traffic related deaths in the United States. Everyday more and more drivers are stopped and arrested for driving under the influence. Although authorities are working to crack down on drunk driving, there are simply too many drunk drivers to stop all of them.
For many of the drivers that are stopped it is not the first time to be driving under the influence or even getting caught doing it. Since 1980 Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD), have lobbied to get first offense penalties for drunk drivers to be more severe. Unfortunately, these penalties do not stop people from making that choice to get behind the wheel of a car after they have been drinking alcoholic beverages.
All of the states have passed the law for age 21 to be the legal drinking age and two-thirds of all of the states have lowered the legal blood alcohol concentration limit from .10 to .08 for adults. Most recently, twelve states have passed Zero Tolerance laws for anyone under the age of 21 with any amount of alcohol in their blood stream.
In 1997, MADD got a new arsenal in their war against drunk driving when Princess Diana was killed in a traffic accident after the man driving her car was found to be intoxicated at three times over the legal limit in France. This accident was a powerful reminder that anyone can be affected by drinking and driving. No one is exempt from the consequences.
In recent years, the Justice System has begun to hold drunk drivers responsible for the damages they have caused. This goes beyond holding them legally responsible and now including monetary restitution to the victims and their families. Another new weapon that is being used in the war against drunk driving is an intolerant legal system.
It is a waste of time these days for a drunk driver to get an attorney and try to get a reduced sentence by pleading to a lesser charge. Although the laws differ from state to state, most states no longer allow even first time offenders to get way without feeling the consequences of their driving under the influence.
In most states now even a first time offender faces a lengthy suspension of their license and at least a weekend in jail. In order to get their license back, most states require the offenders to attend a DUI school, which includes an assessment with a professional counselor.
Did You Know
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There are four general rules that are used by diagnosticians to determine alcohol abuse:
1. Recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, home (e.g., repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household)
2. Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous such as driving a car or operating machinery.
3. Recurrent substance related legal problems
4. Continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems that are caused or made worse by the substance abuse. |
Many states have passes what is called the Habitual Violator Law, which provides felony penalties for three DUI convictions. These violators lose their licenses permanently if not for many years and lose their civil liberties such as the right to vote or own a weapon.
A DUI conviction can be an extremely expensive even, especially a second or third offense. The costs can be even greater for those who receive a DUI because of a traffic accident where someone was injured or possibly killed.
Interesting Facts
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Don’t be ashamed, don’t place blame, don’t ignore the problem, don’t try to solve the problem alone, don’t try to reason with a drunk person, and don’t get into the car with a driver who has been drinking. |
Regardless of thecircumstances, more offenders are being held liable for the damages of any accidents or tragedies they cause while under the influence. The new war on drunk driving can cause the offenders to be not only financially devastated for life but they can also lose their right to live a life of freedom.
Alcoholism in the News
09/04/2008
Neighborhood Alcohol Outlets Tied to Kids' Injury Risk (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)
THURSDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The more places that sell alcohol in a neighborhood, the greater the number of injuries that occur to children who live there, a new study reports.
Neighborhood Alcohol Outlets Tied to Kids' Injury Risk (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)
09/02/2008
Alcoholism-associated molecular adaptations (EurekAlert!)
( European College of Neuropsychopharmacology ) At the 21st Congress of the ECNP 2008 in Barcelona, Prof. Georgy Bakalkin, involved in research focusing on biochemical mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders, highlighted the latest findings on this clinical challenge and presented a novel mechanism and understanding of cognitive deficit in human alcoholics. Thereby an emerging concept ...
Alcoholism-associated molecular adaptations (EurekAlert!)
09/03/2008
Off the bottle and back to work (Baltic Times)
{{thebaltictimes}}TALLINN - The labor office will offer treatment for alcoholism and pay most of the expenses in a bid to reduce alcohol abuse in the nation’s work force. According to the labor office’s experience, the need for such a program is obvious and pressing.
Off the bottle and back to work (Baltic Times)
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!)
09/04/2008
Women who binge drink at greater risk of unsafe sex and sexually transmitted disease (EurekAlert!)
( Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research ) Binge drinking (5 or more alcoholic beverages at one time) is associated with risky sexual behaviors. A new study examined this association by gender at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Binge drinking increased the risk of unsafe sexual behaviors and having an STD for women patients.
Women who binge drink at greater risk of unsafe sex and sexually transmitted disease (EurekAlert!)
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)
09/04/2008
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
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)
09/04/2008
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!)
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