Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Driving under the influence (DUI), or drunk drivingis a serious offence: It could mean the loss of your driver's license, civil fines or jail time. DUI law in the US prohibits driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or above. The laws for each state are similar, however each state differs in DUI charges. If you have been arrested or awaiting trial, you may want to seek help from an experienced DUI lawyer.

DUI, also referred to as driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offence and a crime for a driver to operate a vehicle when impaired. DUI is also referred to as operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated ( OWI ) or operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OMVI), depending upon the jurisdiction. But not matter where you are, a drunk driving conviction can severely impact your life, particularly if you are a repeat offender.

Some states allow convicted drunk drivers to drive if their vehicle has an Ignition Interlock device installed, which analyzes the driver's breath and can disable the ignition if the driver has been drinking. In some states repeat offenders can have their vehicle seized and auctioned off by the state and face higher insurance premiums if convicted for DUI.

DUI Law

It is illegal in all states to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or above. There are calculators and charts available to determine your limit but they aren't 100 percent accurate or reliable.

All states have adopted 21 as the legal drinking age, and all states have passed Zero Tolerance laws which penalize persons under 21 for operating a vehicle with a BAC of .00 (if the arresting officer detects the smell of alcohol) or with negligible BAC levels such as .01 or .02 percent.

Law enforcement officers have the right to stop a vehicle when they suspect the driver may be intoxicated. If stopped, you will be asked for your license, registration and insurance. If suspected of DUI, you will be asked to take a field sobriety test (FST) that may include having you walk a straight line, reciting the alphabet backwards, using a breathalyzer to determine blood-alcohol concentrations, or you may be taken to a hospital for urine and blood testing.

DUI Charges

If you refuse such testing, you may be subjected to penalties such as losing your driver's license for six months to a year. Your refusal may be used to increase penalties if you are convicted for DUI. Two-thirds of the states have now passed Administrative License Revocation (ALR) laws, which allow the arresting officer to take the license of drivers who fail or refuse to take a breath test.

Penalties for DUI, even the first offense, have been increased, mainly due to the efforts of groups like Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). In some states first offenders could spend a weekend in jail and face lengthy license suspensions.

Hundreds of new DUI laws have been passed nationwide since 1980. Many states have DUI laws requiring mandatory jail time for repeat DUI convictions and some states have passed habitual violator laws, meaning offenders lose many of their civil rights and can permanently lose their driver's license.

DUI charges can range from a fine to losing your license, and even jail time. You could receive a criminal record, which means you will be fingerprinted and photographed into police databases, possibly affecting your employment and freedom to travel.

DUI Attorney

If you have a DUI, your fines and charges may be lessened with the help of a qualified DUI/DWI attorney. It is important that you find an experienced DUI lawyer to handle your case. LawyersandSettlements makes it easy for you to find the right DWI Attorney. We work with attorneys throughout the US and Canada who practice in this specialized area.

As well, LawyersandSettlements.com provides comprehensive DUI/ DWI news coverage that aims to keep the public informed. We provide an online legal news source that includes interviews with DUI/DWI attorneys.