Drunk Driving Laws

There is one more reason to be careful after a cook-out or a night on the town – police departments across the U.S. will be sending out more police patrols and DUI roadblocks for the summer.

Memorial Day is typically the start of sobriety checkpoint season, which lasts until Labor Day. During holiday weekends, law enforcement agencies will have roadblocks and an increased number of patrols in order to cut down on speeding and drunk driving.

That isn’t to say holiday weekends are the only times that there will be a heightened police presence - summer is typically the time for weddings, graduation parties, and other celebrations that may potentially involve alcohol. Many police departments will have zero tolerance for those who are caught driving while under the influence of alcohol and /or drugs.

DUI roadblocks are temporary installations that are used by law enforcement agencies to find drunk drivers. Police officers will typically look for signs of intoxication such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, or the smell of alcohol. Officers may also have a portable breath test device that they can use to test the driver’s blood alcohol content level. If the officer suspects that a driver is under the influence, he or she may ask the driver to pull over to perform field sobriety tests.

There are strict guidelines that police departments most follow when conducting a sobriety checkpoint. The guidelines for these checkpoints were established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The officers must use a specific pattern of stopping cars, such as pulling over every fifth car.

Police will not only be looking for intoxicated drivers at these roadblocks. Many counties are conducting “Click It or Ticket” campaigns. During this time, officers will be checking to make sure that both drivers and passengers are wearing their seatbelts. The officer may also check for the driver’s license and proof of insurance.

If you are planning on drinking while at a celebration this summer, be careful and drink responsibly. It is a safer to find a designated driver or alternative transportation.

When a jury hears a case, they expect that the scientific tests used as evidence are correct and accurate. Evidence is instrumental in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant, and it should be valid and untainted.

However, there are times when the validity of evidence can be thrown into question. This is the problem in Washington State right now. Due to credibility issues with the state’s toxicology lab, a panel of three judges in King County have decided that breath tests in hundreds, if not thousands, of cases have been compromised.

Problems arose in the lab last year, when the lab’s manager resigned amidst a storm of controversy. Although she claimed otherwise, it was alleged that she did not actually prepare alcohol samples.

There were other problems in the lab, such as discarding data, entering data incorrectly, using bad software, and not properly maintaining logbooks.

Because of these issues, the panel of judges found that there were “ethical lapses, systemic inaccuracy, negligence and violations of scientific principles,” and that thousands of breath tests given in recent years were affected by multiple errors.

There are about two hundred breath tests machines across Washington that only work by comparing alcohol in the breath to a known sample. The lab is responsible for making the samples of ethanol and water. The accuracy of the breath results, therefore, depends upon the accuracy of the samples that come from the toxicology lab.

Due to the credibility issues associated with breath samples, many prosecutors are relying on other evidence, such as blood tests or the officer’s testimony, in court.

Shockingly, this problem is not confined to Washington State. In a recent national study about crime lab proficiency, researchers found that for many forensic disciplines, the rate of incorrect matches between evidence such as fibers or bodily fluids and a reference sample was over ten percent.

This is especially troubling because once evidence goes to a forensic lab or facility, it is very unlikely that it will be examined by another lab; add to this fact that crime labs are not independent agencies, but part of law enforcement, and it is easy to see that the labs would be more invested in getting convictions than in checking the accuracy or reliability of the evidence they test.

What do you think should be done to ensure that forensic lab test results are accurate?

New Year’s Eve is the biggest night for parties and celebrations for adults across the country. Groups of friends (and sometimes strangers) join together to toast in the New Year. It should be the most joyous night of the year.

Unfortunately, New Year’s Eve can also be the most dangerous night of the year, because of the increased amount of people who drink and drive. Law enforcement agencies will be out in full force on Dec. 31, looking for drunk drivers.

There are some simple things you can do this New Year’s Eve to prevent yourself from being arrested for driving under the influence, or injuring yourself and others.

The first thing you should do is to designate a sober driver before you go to a party. Every year, designated drivers save thousands of people from arrest, accidents and even death. It is important to remember that a designated driver should abstain from drinking any alcohol during the event. On the way home, buckle up – this is the best defense against other impaired drivers who are out on the road.

If you can not find a designated driver, it is important to drink responsibly. Avoid drinking too much alcohol too quickly. It is a good idea to switch between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during the party. Make sure that you keep track of how many drinks you consume throughout the night. Do not get involved with drinking games.

Hosts can help to keep the roads safe as well. You should serve lots of food, especially dishes that are high in protein, as well as a variety of non-alcoholic drinks, desserts and coffees. Do not let impaired guests drive themselves home – arrange for them to get a ride with sober drivers, call a taxi, or let them spend the night.

If you keep these simple tips in mind, you can help keep the roads safe for everyone. Isn’t that a great way to start off the New Year?

What are your plans to keep safe this New Year’s Eve?

It’s that time of the year again – the holidays. Toasting friends and family with a glass of wine is a tradition for many people.

Drinking in moderation has been shown to have many health benefits, including having a positive impact on cardiovascular health.

The problem lies with consuming too much alcohol. It can be easy to do – the holidays may be stressful for many people, and alcohol seems like a good way to alleviate that stress. It is also easy to drink too much when friends and family members keep refilling your glass or encouraging you to drink. These can lead to minor annoyances, such as hangovers, or more serious health problems, such as liver damage or cancer.

If you drink too much and drive, this can also lead to death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that about three in 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related car accident at some time in their life.  The NHTSA also estimates that alcohol was involved in 39 percent of fatal car crashes and led to the deaths of 16,694 people in 2004.

Here are some tips for drinking less around the holidays:
· Pace yourself while drinking. Take time to enjoy your beverage.
· Eat before you drink! Foods with fats or protein will slow alcohol absorption
· Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic beverages (like water or cranberry juice).
· Dilute your drinks. After you start drinking, your taste buds become dull. If you reduce the amount of alcohol in your mixed drink, or switch to light beer, you will never be able to tell a difference.
· Be careful of possible interactions between alcohol and any medications you may be taking.
· Keep track of how much alcohol you are consuming.
· As fun as they seem, stay out of chugging contest or other drinking games.
· Walk around. If you keep active, you will be too busy to drink too much.
· Don’t let others force you to drink – carrying a “decoy” drink may keep people from pressuring you.
· Stop drinking about an hour before the party is over – drink non-alcoholic beverages during this time.

If you keep these tips in mind, you can avoid the consequences that come along with drinking too much and have a happier holiday season.

What tricks do you use to keep your alcohol consumption in check?

If you were arrested for driving under the influence today, would you know where to go for help? The team at http://www.drunkdrivinglaws.com/ realizes that not everyone can afford to have an attorney on retainer. That is why they have created an easy-to-use, comprehensive website to provide the answers to your DUI/DWI related questions.

The website offers information on everything from the history of drunk driving to how to locate a bail bond agency. Want to find a DUI attorney? You can find one on this site. Curious about the different types of field sobriety tests or Miranda rights? Everything you want to know is just a mouse click away.

While there are some DUI laws that are common across the country, DUI and DWI laws can vary greatly from state to state. Luckily, visitors can find information on the laws for their particular state easily here.

DUI laws are strict across the nation. You can find information about the common DUI penalties such as jail time, fines, and administrative license suspension. There are also details on alcohol education classes, ignition interlock installations, and DUI insurance.

Since DUI and DWI laws are so complex and constantly evolving, one of the goals of the website is to show how important it is to hire an experienced DUI attorney. Visitors don’t have to take a chance with randomly selecting an attorney from the yellow pages – drunkdrivinglaws.org has done all of the hard work in finding successful attorneys.

It is important to find an attorney who specializes in drunk-driving cases who is familiar with the laws in your particular state or city. An expert lawyer can get charges minimized, or even dropped in some cases. Visitors on this website can submit their contact information on a convenient online form so a qualified attorney in their area can assist them with their case.

The site offers representatives to chat in real time with visitors who may have questions about their case. The website is also wireless compatible for cell phones or other wireless devices, as a convenience to visitors.

For more information, contact http://www.drunkdrivinglaws.com/ today.