DUI COST AND CONSEQUENCES
By Chaquetta Greene
Lesson One:
What is DUI?
You can be found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI), if the state can prove either that: You are legally intoxicated while driving,
meaning that your body shows alcohol levels above a state-mandated limit.
You have been driving while your faculties are impaired by alcohol or a drug--that is, that your ability to see, hear, walk, talk and judge distances is below normal as set by the state you're arrested in.
Even if your alcohol level is lower than the legal intoxication level, you can still be convicted if the state can show your abilities were impaired.
Lesson Two:
How to test DUI
Breathalyzer
Blood Test
What do They Measure
Blood Alcohol Concentration
What do They Measure
Blood Alcohol Concentration
How do they work
Alcohol
What are the procedures
Blood is drawn from one arm using a clean needle The blood is then taken to a lab where the BAC is measured
that is absorbed in the blood stream can be measured once a person breaths because the alcohol will present itself in evaporation from the lungs
How to test DUI
Field test
One leg stand test: suspect raises one leg out with the toe pointed out and counts to 30 while holding the position Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGM) Test: Stimulus is placed before suspect and moved horizontally across their plane of vision. Eye movement is noted
Walk and Turn (WAT) Test: suspects takes several heeltoe steps while counting and watching the feet in movement. There are several scientific discrepancies with the credibility of these tests criteria and the evaluators ability to judge the tests correctly
Lesson Three: Can a Blood alcohol test be cheated
Popular belief:
Sucking on pennies will lower BAC
Breathalyzers can decipher intoxication from alcoholic beverages from hypoglycemia
False sucking on pennies will do no such thing
Those who do not drink alcoholic beverages are alcohol free
False the body produces its own alcohol, endogenous ethanol. High levels of production can be read as legal intoxication
False persons with hypoglycemia are at risk of false arrest when taking breathalyzer tests. Acetone on the breath may read as alcohol to the test
Lesson Four: When can you be tested for intoxication
Officers have the right to test an individual for intoxication if:
The
individual shows suspicious driving behavior If alcohol is on the breath or the officer has more suspicion a field test may be administered Failure of the field test will then lead to the testing of the individuals BAC by breathalyzer or blood test
Lesson Five: Consequences of Conviction
First Offense
$400.00
Fine 48 hours to 30 days imprisonment
Judge
could sentence 48 hours of community service in place of imprisonment
SR-22
insurance in order to retain license
suspended license
Six-months
Consequences of conviction
Second offense
$2,000-$5,000
fine 5days-1year imprisonment
Or
30 days community service
One
year suspended license
Third offense
$3,800-$6,300
fine 60days-3years imprisonment Two years suspended license
Consequences of conviction
Felony DUI
Drunk
driver causes bodily harm to another individual
$5,000-$10,000
Fine 30 days 5years imprisonment
Drunk
driver causes death to another individual
$10,000-$25,000
fine 1year-25years imprisonment
Lesson Six: Important Facts to Note
Implied Consent Law
Drivers
in South Carolina have given there consent to breath, blood or urine analysis is no tolerance of underage drinking or drinking and driving car video is constantly recording and can be used as evidence in a court of law
Zero Tolerance
There
Use of Videotape
Police
Sources
Images
[Link]/2009_08_09_archive...
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Information
[Link] /[Link] [Link]
Sources
[Link]
abuse/blood-alcohol [Link]