Driving While Intoxicated and It's Penalties

The DUI Penalties

DUI laws vary from country to country and from state to state. In the United States, every one of the fifty states has an offense typically labeled DUI, but it has also been called Driving While Intoxicated and Operating While Intoxicated. While specific penalties vary from state to state, most states will revoke or suspend your license. You can expect to pay a fine, pay higher insurance costs, and be expected to undergo treatment or an education program. The chart below illustrates some of the major consequences for drivers over the age of twenty one driving a personal vehicle. Keep in mind that the actual sentence will vary depending on the judge's decisions in the matter.

Penalties for Commercial Drivers

DUIs are far more serious for commercial drivers than they are for drivers who do not hold a commercial license. Drivers not only have to have a much lower blood alcohol content level to be charged with DUI offenses, but they also face more severe penalties. Many states have gone so far as to adopt the Federal Moto Carrier Safety Administration rules regarding commercial licenses. Under these rules, any drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving a commercial vehicle face automatic suspension should they ever have a blood alcohol content of .04% or more. Moreover, should you be convicted while driving your personal vehicle, you can also lose your commercial license. While you'll have to serve your sentence from the judge should you be convicted, the penalties for commercial drivers are always in addition to the penalties for personal drivers.

Penalties for Minors

Because minors aren't supposed to be drinking in the first place, most states have taken a zero tolerance stance with regard to DUIs and minors. In many cases, if a minor has a .01% blood alcohol content or higher, there is an automatic license suspension. In some cases, it can last as long as one year. Many states are also requiring alcohol evaluation and treatment programs for minors who are found with any blood alcohol content. In some cases, minors can face the zero tolerance penalties on top of the penalties most adult drivers face for DUIs.

DUI Penalties By State

Enhanced Penalties

As we mentioned before, many states have more severe penalties for those who have higher blood alcohol content levels. Those penalties range from jail time to higher fines to additional license suspensions. See the section at the end for a complete listing of enhanced penalties on a state by state basis.

Let's Take a Look At the Numbers

Many groups base their claim that DUI programs are absolutely necessary based on the statistical data gathered by a variety of federal agencies. It may help to get an overview of this crime by looking at the numbers involved.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in reported:

• Alcohol related crashes took a life every thirty-one minutes and injured someone every two minutes in 2006.
• In 2005, 39% of all traffic deaths occurred in alcohol related crashes.
• In 2005, 48 children were killed by drivers who were under the influence.
• Also in 2005, over more than 207 children died in car accidents while riding with drivers who were under the influence of alcohol.
• Sixteen percent of drivers aged 16 a€“ 20 who died in 2005 had consumed alcohol.
• Drivers who have blood alcohol content levels of .08% or higher are nine times more likely to have a prior alcohol related conviction.