DUI penalties range by severity and state, but it is a serious offense that no one wants to have on their record. Penalties can include losing your driver’s license, paying significant fines, or facing jail time. Even a first-time offense can cost more than $10,000 in fines and legal fees. Drinking and driving, also referred to as driving under the influence (DUI), involves operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08%.
Preventing Recurrence Through Sobriety Support
Then it passes into the bloodstream where it accumulates until it is metabolized by the liver. A person’s alcohol level is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. At a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, crash risk increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.
Aggravated DUI
This slows down reaction time, increasing the risk of car accidents as you cannot react as fast as you would without alcohol in your system. According to Science Daily, even small amounts of alcohol can slow down reaction time enough to make driving dangerous. When people drink alcohol and drive impaired, this can result in the temporary or permanent loss of their driver’s license. Losing a driver’s license can impact virtually every aspect of someone’s life. Drunk driving also impacts innocent people, meaning those who did not set out to drive drunk that day.
What are the legal consequences of drunk driving?
Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality. In both cases, having a safe plan beforehand can eliminate a tough decision under stress. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The Definition of Drunk Driving
Even one drink can slow a driver’s reaction time and make it harder to focus on the road. In this guide, we’ll explore the dangers of drinking and driving, the legal consequences, and how to support a loved one facing a DUI charge. Plenty of people know that drinking and driving don’t mix — but many still do it. Alcohol-impaired driving is the cause of thousands of drinking and driving accidents and fatalities each year.
Tips to avoid drinking and driving
- Even taking the lowest figure for each of these costs, a DUI conviction could set you back around $6,000.
- Drinking slows your response time, which can increase the likelihood of an accident.
- A person may also be required to attend alcohol treatment programs.
- Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol poses a threat to you and anyone in your vicinity.
Submit your number to receive a call today from a treatment provider. Alcohol consumption can put anyone at risk of causing an accident or other serious injury. However, some populations are more likely to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking. Just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger, because alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination. Alcohol use disorder (AUD), or alcohol addiction or alcoholism, is a chronic relapsing brain disease.
Blackout Drunk: Signs, Effects, and How to Stop It
According to Forbes Advisor, car insurance rates go up 70% on average after you have had a DUI. Additionally, you may need to obtain an SR-22 document to verify you have purchased auto liability insurance. The penalties that accompany a DUI conviction vary from state to state. Any crime committed either qualifies as an infraction, a misdemeanor or a felony, with infractions being the least serious crimes and felonies being the most serious. In all 50 states, driving under the influence is Drug rehabilitation considered a misdemeanor or a felony offense.
This is especially dangerous when your vision, coordination, and reaction time are also impaired. You may experience some loss of judgement after just two drinks, while significant impaired judgment occurs at a BAC of .08%. You may also experience a decline in your self-control and reasoning at this level of intoxication. Visual functions begin to decline with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of just .02%, the equivalent of only one to two drinks.
If an accident took place, the financial consequences are even greater. You will have to pay to repair your vehicle and cover property damage if you run consequences of driving drunk include: into anything during the accident. First offenders can lose their license for 30 days up to a year, depending on the state. If you’re a repeat offender, you’ll face a longer suspension or have your license revoked permanently. You also risk facing legal consequences that can change the trajectory of your life. We’re here 24/7 to help guide you or your loved on through rehab and recovery.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens, and almost a third of young drivers killed in fatal crashes involved underage drinking. In 2022, 30% of young drivers 15 to 20 years old who were killed in crashes had BACs of .01 g/dL or higher. Imagine what impact your brutal and untimely death would have on all the people in this scenario. Now, imagine how you would feel if you survived the collision, but your actions lead to an innocent person’s death. All too often, the people who die in drunk driving collisions are friends of relatives of the intoxicated driver.