DRUNK DRIVING LAWS. This essay is on laws dealing with DWI, DUI and consequences for being charged with these crimes.

DRUNK DRIVING LAWSWHAT IS DRIVING

UNDER THE INFLUENCE?

Drinking alcohol and taking certain drugs affects your ability to safely operate dangerous

equipment such as automobiles, motorboats and industrial equipment. In every state it is

against the law to operate an automobile if you are so under the influence of drugs or

alcohol that you can not safely operate the motor vehicle.

WHAT IS A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL?

When you drink, alcohol from the drink is absorbed into your blood stream. Various tests

have been designed to measure the level of alcohol in your blood. In most states, if your

blood alcohol level is greater than .10, you are presumed to be too intoxicated to safely

operate an automobile. However, you can still be drunk even if your blood alcohol level is

less than .10. Further, there is a big push nationwide to have the laws changed in the

individual states, to make anyone with a blood alcohol level of .08

A Kranz (wreath) of Kölsch beer.

Mugshot of Mel Gibson taken on 28 July 2006.

English: Relative risk of an accident based on blo...

or more considered

legally too intoxicated to drive a vehicle.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR DRUNK DRIVING?

If you are stopped by the police and suspected of drunk driving, you will probably be

asked to take some type of test to determine your blood alcohol level, such as a blood test

or a breathalyzer test. In most states, if you refuse to submit to the test as requested by the

police officer, your license will be suspended for failure to take the test, regardless of

whether you are ultimately found guilty of drunk driving. In Pennsylvania, for example,

refusal to submit to any type of blood alcohol test automatically results in a one year

suspension of your driver's license. You can still be prosecuted for drunk driving even if

you refuse to submit to a blood...