Risks of a DUI
Driving under the influence is a serious issue. Each state has a legal limit of what your blood alcohol level must be under to operate a car. In many states, a blood alcohol level over .08 is considered too high to be driving. If you are under the legal drinking age and drive a vehicle while intoxicated you can be in serious trouble if any alcohol is found on your breath. If you plan on having drinks, it is best to call a sober friend for a ride or to arrange for car service. A DUI can get you in trouble with the law and affect your personal life and safety.
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Your Safety
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When you drink and drive you are putting yourself at risk. According to the website drivingdrunk.org, in the year 2005 over 16,000 accidents were caused by drunk driving. Even if you don't feel drunk, your driving and reflexes can be impaired from drinking. It is easier to skid off the road, cross into another lane or not see a stop sign if you are intoxicated. You can be seriously hurt and hospitalized from a drunk driving car crash or even wind up dead.
The Safety of Others
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When you drive drunk, you are not only putting yourself in harm's way, you are putting innocent people in jeopardy as well. Drunk drivers are not the only people killed or seriously injured during a DUI-related accident. Many victims are innocent and sober pedestrians walking or driving another car. Before getting behind the wheel after drinking, think about how you would feel if your family member or friend was hurt or killed because of a stranger's careless decision making.
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Legal Problems
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If you get pulled over while intoxicated, you could face serious legal trouble. The officer who pulls you over will likely perform two tests on you. One kind is a field sobriety test where you will be asked to get out of your car and do things such as walk in a straight line or stand on one foot. You can also be given a breathalyzer test. This will allow the officer to find out your exact blood alcohol level. If you are over the legal limit, it will lead to an immediate arrest. Depending on your state, the punishment for a DUI can include expensive fines, time in jail, having your license taken away, doing community service, taking a substance abuse awareness class or all of the above.
Repercussions
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If you get a DUI, it will impact your entire existence. Depending on where you live, how many times you have driven drunk and how intoxicated you were may determine if you are charged with a felony or a misdemeanor. If you are charged with a felony DUI, it may be difficult to pass employment background checks in the future. Even if you are not charged with a felony, having your license revoked can make getting to work difficult. Penalties and court costs due to driving drunk can drain your savings account. However, by far the worst repercussion of a DUI is if you hurt or kill someone else. That is a memory you will have to live with for the rest of your life.
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