Understanding Drunk Driving Laws

People driving drunk creates situations where people are not safe on the road while they're out there. Their impaired reflexes can lead to catastrophic accidents that can lead to serious injuries or fatalities. That's why there are drunk driving laws on the books. According to Insurance Navy, there was one attempt to curb this by having the drinking age be raised from 18 to 21, which was passed in 1984. While this did keep teenagers from drinking and getting behind the wheel, there are still many adults out there that drink and drive and wind up having to take a DWI intervention course.

What Constitutes Being Drunk?

When you drink alcohol, a percentage of it is in your bloodstream. The more you drink in a short amount of time, the higher the percentage of alcohol in your bloodstream. When you're drunk, you can't react as quickly to things as you would if you were sober. If you get pulled over, a law enforcement official can administer a breathalyzer, and if you are found to have a .08% of alcohol in your system, that means that you are legally drunk. You might hear it explained as a .08 BAC, standing for "blood alcohol content."

What Are the Penalties?

This depends on several things, including what your blood alcohol level was, how many prior offenses you have, and what happened while you were driving drunk. If it's a first-time offense, you might be required to take a DWI intervention course. The penalties will get gradually stiffer, including the suspension and possible loss of your driver's license. You may have to pay fines and also be required to have a blood alcohol monitor put in your car where you have to blow into it to show that you are sober before the engine turns on.

All of this does not include any other legal matters that you may encounter if you wind up seriously hurting or killing someone. Then you could find yourself being liable for medical bills or even wind up going to prison for years. The consequences of deciding to drive while drunk can affect a lot of people.

Ultimately, if you are required to take a DWI intervention course, it would be wise to listen to what they have to say. If you are addicted to alcohol, there are groups you can go to. You can contact us at Restoration House - Texas Alcohol and Drug Offender Education Classes if you want to learn about drunk driving laws or need to take a DWI intervention course.