Driving Under Influence In The United States
Driving under influence of alcohol or other drugs is illegal in all 50 states in the union. There are various tests used to determine if a driver has had too much to drink or is under the influence of some sort of drug, most of the time an officer who suspects a driver will administer a field sobriety test. This can consist of walking a straight line, standing with arms out and bringing the forefinger to the tip of the nose and reciting the alphabet. Failing anyone of these tests can land you in hot legal water!
Blood Alcohol Content
Also known as your BAC, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in the United States if you have a blood alcohol content of .08% or more. The number refers to the amount of alcohol in your blood. This is a measurement determined by either a breathalyzer or blood test. It is a common practice in most of the country for an officer to first conduct a field sobriety test and then move to the more conclusive breathalyzer. Of course, this is generally left to the discretion of the arresting officer.
Punishment
For many years drunk driving, DWI or driving under influence in the United States was treated as a minor offense. It was not uncommon for a person to receive four or more citations before there were any serious consequences. Fortunately this has changed over the years and today many people will be punished harshly even for a first offense. Drunken driving courses, community service, vehicle interlock devices (basically a built in breathalyzer) are all potential punishments for driving under influence of alcohol or drugs.
Conclusion
If you want to avoid even the slightest risk of a DUI, DWI or other drinking and driving related charge it is best to adopt a zero tolerance policy. In other words, if you have had a drink it is best not to operate a motor vehicle. When you have plans for a night out that will include the consumption of alcohol you should call a cab or designate a friend to stay sober and drive you. Even a minor influence of alcohol can impair your driving ability. This leaves you and everyone else on the road at risk for a terrible accident, and if you survive, you will be held responsible for the injuries or death of anyone else involved in the accident. You could even face serious criminal charges; the bottom line is the risks are simply not worth it!
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