| Driving under the influence can have serious | | | | Driving under the influence can have serious |
| ramifications for both yourself and for others. In the | | | | ramifications for both yourself and for others. In the |
| U.S., alcohol is involved in over 40% of fatal accidents. | | | | U.S., alcohol is involved in over 40% of fatal accidents. |
| Not only does this amount to a staggering loss of life, it | | | | Not only does this amount to a staggering loss of life, it |
| also costs tax payers an estimated $51 billion every | | | | also costs tax payers an estimated $51 billion every |
| year. | | | | year. |
| The ramifications of driving under the influence are not | | | | The ramifications of driving under the influence are not |
| limited to loss of life. If you drive under the influence | | | | limited to loss of life. If you drive under the influence |
| you can lose a lot more, including your liberty. Because | | | | you can lose a lot more, including your liberty. Because |
| DUI is such a serious offense, many states have | | | | DUI is such a serious offense, many states have |
| enacted tougher sentencing guidelines (called "truth in | | | | enacted tougher sentencing guidelines (called "truth in |
| sentencing laws") which prevent a person convicted of | | | | sentencing laws") which prevent a person convicted of |
| a DUI from getting reduced or suspended sentences. | | | | a DUI from getting reduced or suspended sentences. |
| This means that if you are sentenced to jail time for a | | | | This means that if you are sentenced to jail time for a |
| DUI you will have to remain in jail for the entire | | | | DUI you will have to remain in jail for the entire |
| sentence, without hope of early release for good | | | | sentence, without hope of early release for good |
| behavior. | | | | behavior. |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) can refer to driving a | | | | Driving under the influence (DUI) can refer to driving a |
| vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any other | | | | vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any other |
| substance that impairs a person's ability to drive. This | | | | substance that impairs a person's ability to drive. This |
| includes any illegal drug and a number of prescription | | | | includes any illegal drug and a number of prescription |
| medications. In some jurisdictions DUI is referred to as | | | | medications. In some jurisdictions DUI is referred to as |
| Driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving under intense | | | | Driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving under intense |
| influence (DUI), operating a motor vehicle while | | | | influence (DUI), operating a motor vehicle while |
| intoxicated (OMVI) or operating while intoxicated (OWI). | | | | intoxicated (OMVI) or operating while intoxicated (OWI). |
| Regardless of what name is used, the principle | | | | Regardless of what name is used, the principle |
| remains the same: driving while impaired is unlawful and | | | | remains the same: driving while impaired is unlawful and |
| dangerous. | | | | dangerous. |
| The reason so many terms are used is because | | | | The reason so many terms are used is because |
| driving under the influence is not restricted to driving a | | | | driving under the influence is not restricted to driving a |
| car or truck. It is equally illegal to fly a plane, ride a | | | | car or truck. It is equally illegal to fly a plane, ride a |
| motorcycle or moped, operate a boat, operate heavy | | | | motorcycle or moped, operate a boat, operate heavy |
| equipment or even, in some states, ride a horse or | | | | equipment or even, in some states, ride a horse or |
| horse-drawn carriage. In some jurisdictions it is even | | | | horse-drawn carriage. In some jurisdictions it is even |
| illegal to ride a bike while under the influence. This is | | | | illegal to ride a bike while under the influence. This is |
| because any means of conveyance becomes a | | | | because any means of conveyance becomes a |
| threat to your safety and the safety of those around | | | | threat to your safety and the safety of those around |
| you when your perception and reflexes are impaired. | | | | you when your perception and reflexes are impaired. |
| In the past, determining whether someone was driving | | | | In the past, determining whether someone was driving |
| under the influence was done by field sobriety tests | | | | under the influence was done by field sobriety tests |
| administered by law enforcement officers. This | | | | administered by law enforcement officers. This |
| included things like having the suspect walk a straight | | | | included things like having the suspect walk a straight |
| line, touch their nose or recite the alphabet backwards. | | | | line, touch their nose or recite the alphabet backwards. |
| However, these means left the determination of guilt at | | | | However, these means left the determination of guilt at |
| the discretion of the officer. | | | | the discretion of the officer. |
| Today, much more sophisticated means of determining | | | | Today, much more sophisticated means of determining |
| whether a person is under the influence exist. Now | | | | whether a person is under the influence exist. Now |
| police officers can use hand-held devises to measure | | | | police officers can use hand-held devises to measure |
| an individual's blood alcohol content (BAC) and | | | | an individual's blood alcohol content (BAC) and |
| determine if it falls within the limits of the law. In all 50 | | | | determine if it falls within the limits of the law. In all 50 |
| states it is unlawful to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or | | | | states it is unlawful to drive with a BAC of 0.08% or |
| more. Many states impose even stricter additional limits. | | | | more. Many states impose even stricter additional limits. |
| More sophisticated means of testing for other illegal | | | | More sophisticated means of testing for other illegal |
| substances, such as urine, blood or hair analyses, also | | | | substances, such as urine, blood or hair analyses, also |
| exist to aid the law in determining if someone is driving | | | | exist to aid the law in determining if someone is driving |
| under the influence of another substance. These | | | | under the influence of another substance. These |
| technological advances make it harder than ever to | | | | technological advances make it harder than ever to |
| get away with driving under the influence of drugs or | | | | get away with driving under the influence of drugs or |
| alcohol. Those who choose to disregard the laws | | | | alcohol. Those who choose to disregard the laws |
| concerning driving under the influence risk fines, losing | | | | concerning driving under the influence risk fines, losing |
| their licenses and jail time in addition to the risk to the | | | | their licenses and jail time in addition to the risk to the |
| safety of themselves and others. | | | | safety of themselves and others. |