Driving While Intoxicated

Most of the countrys traffic fatalities is the repeated

driving while intoxicated. It is an epidemic problem not

only caused by alcoholics who drinks and drives. Is this

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under Influence

(DUI)? These two terms mean the same thing. Its only for

the states to choose DWI or DUI. Some states make this

distinction- it is DUI if the person drives with a blood

alcohol level less than .08 and DWI if he drives with a

blood alcohol level over .08.
In case a driver is involved in the crash, such motor

vehicle crash is considered to be alcohol-related and is

determined to have had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

of .01 gram per deciliter (g/dL) or higher. This is

considered as alcohol related fatality which is caused by

the presence of alcohol.
Alcoholism DUI is a cultural problem as well as societal

problem. The law enforcement and the courts work hand in

hand for the necessary solution to this problem. You may be

wondering what is going to happen next and what you will

have to do if you have been arrested for drunk driving for

the first time. You may find that consequences have changed

since your last arrest if this was not your first drunken

driving offense.
The requirements and penalties for drunken driving differs

from state to state. but because of the efforts exerted by

advocacy groups like the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, all

the states of the United States of America passed laws

intended to crackdown on drunk driving by increasing

penalties and consequences.
Court as the first stop
It is a rule of thumb that a person is deemed innocent until

proven guilty in the United States of America. But if you

took a blood test or a breath test wherein your blood

alcohol content at .08 or above is recorded, you will be

convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving

under the influence (DUI) depending on what drunk driving is

called in your state.
You were in fact driving under the influence, if you had a

BAC above .08. If you recorded a .08 BAC or greater you will

be found guilty even if you passed the field sobriety tests.
You will be impose a court costs or fine and a revocation of

your driver's license for a period of time once you are

convicted in court of drunk driving. There are states which

impose jail time, even for first offenders. But states

differ on the amount of fine, jail time and the length of

the license revocation yet in all states fine and a license

revocation is always imposed. Still there are states where

the offender is required to perform community service or he

is placed under probation. In the latter case, the offender

has to complete all the terms of the probation and pay the

probation fee.