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What Do You Do If You’ve Been Caught Driving While Drinking

February 28, 2021

Driving while consuming alcohol or under the influence of alcohol is a serious crime as it renders the driver incapable of safely operating any vehicle. Operating any motorized vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, farm machinery, and even boats is a crime punishable within a jurisdiction. It poses not just various hazards to the driver and pedestrians but also causes traffic collisions.

In this article, you’ll learn some things about what you should do when you’ve been arrested for drunk driving.

What Is Driving Under The Influence?

Driving under the influence (DUI) or operating any motorized vehicle under the influence of alcohol is a criminal offense punishable by law. Fortunately, there are skilled lawyers you can talk with regarding what legal actions you should process if you’ve ever been arrested for this offense.

For further information, you can read more here. Some added information regarding DUI that one ought to know are the following:

DUI is also known as driving while impaired or driving while intoxicated (DWI), drunk driving, and operating while intoxicated (OWI).
Men are more likely to be driving drunk than women. In 2018, 21% of men were involved in car crashes compared to 14% of women.
Over the decades, about 10,000 people have been killed in car-crash accidents.
A total of 220 children were killed in drunk-driving accidents.
Studies show that approximately 10,511 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2018, which is 29% of all traffic fatalities.

Dangers Of Drunk Driving

As a responsible driver, you should be aware of the dangers of drunk driving. Here are several effects of alcohol impairments on your driving skills:

Slower Reaction Time: Alcohol can slow down reflexes, which diminishes the driver’s ability to react swiftly to changing situations.
A Decline in Attention: Excessive alcohol ingestion may result in a decrease in one’s driving focus.
Lack of Bodily Coordination: Due to alcohol consumption, one may experience notable curtailment in muscle coordination.
Vision: Alcohol can alter eye movement, slow eye muscle function, and affect visual perception, possibly resulting in blurred vision.

DUI Penalties

DUI is a traffic violation caused when the driver is under the influence of alcohol or any other toxic element. The legal ramifications of DUI on a driver may include the following:

Maximum penalty may lead to incarceration and revocation of license.
The offender may spend 48 hours of jail sentence and will have to pay for fines that could cost up to USD$1,000.
The driver may be charged with a felony case and can be sentenced to spend one year in jail if there will be a case of an injured or killed person.

What To Do After A DUI Arrest?

Being arrested for DUI can be frightening and confusing, especially if you’re experiencing it for the first time. What steps should you take first? Here are some useful tips to help you.

Take A Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) Test

This chemical test is a biomarker used to measure the driver’s level of alcohol consumption. You should take the test so the officers can deduce the alcohol level contained within your system at the time of the arrest.

Hire A DUI Attorney

Take note that you should look for a skilled attorney who specializes in the field of your case and not a general lawyer, for all your drunk driving defenses to make sure you are properly defended. You must also retain the assistance of expert legal services.

Look For A Bail Bonds Agent

After an arrest, it’s essential to contact a bail bonds agent to file bail for you. A bail bonds agent is someone who will require a fee. Once paid, they will arrange for your bail process.

Prepare For Your Indictment

This is the portion of your trial in which you enter your plea. As much as possible, you should listen to your lawyer’s legal advice on whether you would plead guilty since that will be a difficult task to defend. It’s possible to win DUI charges if you have an experienced DUI lawyer on your side.

Bottom Line

Practicing safe driving is crucial to avoid worst-case scenarios. It requires responsibility from the driver as they’re held accountable not just for their own life but also for the lives of other people who may be affected due to their negligence. As a driver, it’s your responsibility to be mindful of your driving because once someone’s life is already ruined, no amount of apology will be enough.