Understanding DUI Law
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: DUI Law.

Introduction

Each state has its own DUI law specific to defendants booked with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. DUI is America's most common offense. In every state, driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances is punishable under the DUI law for that jurisdiction.

Every state has a DUI law. Most states refer to driving under the influence as DUI; some states refer to drunk driving as DWI or driving while intoxicated. But regardless of what you call it, the consequences of flouting the DUI law are potentially severe: prison, hefty fines, loss of driver's license, required ignition interlock devices, attendance at alcohol education meetings, community service or freeway cleanup, increased car insurance rates, and even a criminal conviction.

All the fifty states have per se DUI law defining it as a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above a prohibited level, 0.08 percent. The DUI law in 45 states allows some offenders to drive only if their motor vehicles have been equipped with ignition interlocks. These devices examine a driver’s breath and immobilize the ignition if the driver has been drinking. DUI law for most states says that for a fourth DUI offense within seven years, the offender could get up to three years in a state prison.

In thirty states, multiple offenders may have to surrender the vehicles that were driven while impaired by alcohol. DUI law in 43 states and Washington D.C. prohibits the driver, passengers or both from possessing an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, even in the passenger compartment.

DUI law explicitly says that it is illegal to drink alcohol before you reach the age of 21 and it is against the law to sell or give liquor to a person below the age of 21. DUI law further states it is illegal for anyone to be under the influence of illegal drugs. Therefore a law enforcement officer can stop a suspect and administer a sobriety test if he/she thinks that person is under influence.

The exact DUI law about drinking and driving may vary a bit from state to state, but most of the DUI laws are alike. If a person is arrested for the first time for a DUI violation, he or she will either be held in jail or released with a citation, which demands appearance in court for indictment.

Some situations can make driving under the influence even more serious. If someone is injured because of the driver's drunkenness, the charge will be a felony. If someone gets killed, the charge will be manslaughter or murder. If a person is familiar with his/her drinking problem, and still drinks and drive, intent is shown, which will establish the guilt.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.