Know More About Driving While Intoxicated
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) refers to the act of driving a vehicle in an intoxicated state. The intoxication can be caused by anything like alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicating substances. DWI consists of driving everything from cars and boats to airplanes. It is considered a very serious crime and it is against the law in every state to drive while intoxicated. Another term used for DWI is Driving Under the Influence (DUI). If someone is observed violating traffic laws or driving erratically, the police is permitted to stop him/her and test him/her for driving while intoxicated law violation. If the driver is suspected to be intoxicated, then he/she can be asked to undergo various tests, including a blood alcohol test.
A person who is caught driving while intoxicated can face severe penalties such as points on the driving license or suspension of the license. In addition to that there may be a fine laid on the guilty driver. If the offender is involved in a second or repeat offense then the punishment is bound to increase and can also go up to a jail sentence. The punishment differs according to the factors involved. The factors can be the state in which the accused was arrest took place, the number of arrest or conviction i.e. a first or a repeat conviction, violation of any other laws, the presence of children in that area, the driver's BAC and whether the offender agreed to undergo certain tests like a blood, urine or breath test or not. The impact of a DWI conviction can also be on the offenders insurance premium. There is a chance that the insurance premium may increase in a big way. People charged with DWI violation may request a legal defense in order to reduce the penalties or defeat the charge. They need to hire a good lawyer to defend themselves. DWI or Driving While Intoxicated has become a notorious practice. This has resulted in the origination of some myths about DWI. The most famous myth is that a DWI accused can ask for a jury trial to counter the results of a BAC estimator machine, with a good reason to question the results. The truth is that there is no provision in the sixth amendment for this and many states deny a jury trial for such a demand. So nothing can be done after the offender is caught with a high BAC level. Driving while intoxicated can put the offender into a lot of trouble. So it is better to avoid driving while intoxicated rather then regretting it after suffering the consequences. |