Drennan Law Firm Dui & Traffic Law Center
When you get a DUI, the costs you accrue aren't just from being fined by the courts or having to pay for a chemical test. The reality is that a DUI costs thousands of dollars because it affects all aspects of your life.
When you're threatened with a DUI, it's important to know how it could affect you. Why? You need to devise a way to defend yourself and prepare for the worst, should you end up with a conviction.
Most people know that a DUI will affect them by resulting in criminal charges and possible penalties. One thing not many discuss is the possibility of your insurance costs increasing to a point where you can't afford to pay for it or to drive your vehicle.
After a DUI, insurance rates go up because you're not considered to be as safe of a driver. The insurance company weighs the risks and decides if you're a safe enough driver to continue to insure. If you can still get insurance through your provider, then you'll need to look into how much this new plan will cost. It's likely to be higher than you expect.
When you're driving and see a sobriety checkpoint up ahead, you might wish you could do anything you could to avoid it. It takes time to get through one, and there's no guarantee that the officer won't stop you. If you've had a drink or two, even if you're not too intoxicated to drive, there is a higher risk of being pulled over if the officer speaks with you and notices the smell of alcohol.
The real question about sobriety checkpoints is whether or not they're legal. Some states don't think they are. Others do. In fact, there are 37 states where sobriety checkpoints are used to help prevent drunk drivers from being on the roads. In 13 states, these checkpoints aren't used. Some states, like Texas, stop them because they appear to be a violation of state law or the public's constitutional rights. Other states simply won't spend the funds to have checkpoint programs.
When you are pulled over by law enforcement officials while driving and asked to perform a Breathalyzer test, it is probably in your best interests to oblige. This is because as a person with a drivers' license, you are considered to have given implied consent in exchange for the privileges that come with driving. If you refuse a Breathalyzer test, it is likely that you will be assumed to be driving over the limit.
However, it is reasonable for you to have your concerns about the accuracy of Breathalyzer tests. This is because the tests are tools that are not always accurate. They are designed to be portable and usable as field tests, but this means that accuracy is compromised, and you may have a valid reason to challenge your Breathalyzer result if you were found to be over the limit. The following are some things that could affect the accuracy of your Breathalyzer test.
When you work out in the gym, there are always risks that you undertake. In order to get more fit, you must put your body under some type of strain, and, ideally, you should perform cardio vascular activities by working to increase your heart rate. In addition, when weight lifting, improvement can only be gained by steadily increasing the weight in order to push your body further.
In this way, a large part of injury prevention in the gym comes down to common sense and taking responsibility for the stress that you put your body under. It requires that you take the gym seriously and understand the risks. However, there are times when the gym itself is completely responsible for the injury to one of its customers.
If you're threatened with a DUI charge, one thing you immediately think about is the risk of losing your job. No one wants to find out that a DUI violates a contract or makes the individual ineligible for a job he or she want, so it's important to get the right information ahead of time.
It's always going to be in your best interests to fight a DUI charge and try to get it eliminated or reduced. DUI charges stay on your background check and criminal record permanently in most cases. A DUI is among the most commonly found offense on background checks.
There are many drinks out there that mix caffeine and alcohol. From coffee mixed with a shot of alcohol to Red Bull poured into a mixed drink, many people opt to have a little additional punch to the drink.
Mixing alcohol and caffeine is dangerous, though. Energy drinks, for example, have sugars, caffeine and other additives. Caffeine masks the depressant side effects of alcohol, making it harder for people to know how intoxicated they are. As a result, drinkers may think they're more alert or sober than they are, which results in poor decisions.
Just about everyone loves to head out on the water in the summer months. The breeze is fantastic, and it's a great time to spend an afternoon with your family and friends. Perhaps you like to go out on your own and go fishing or prefer to take a tour in the evening to go dolphin watching. Whatever it is you like to do when boating, this is the season to enjoy it.
One problem with boating is that some people believe it's safe to drink alcohol and drive a boat. That could not be further from the truth. The reality is that much like any other vehicle, a boat has the potential to crash and malfunction. A driver who is impaired won't be able to respond to an emergency in the way he or she should, and could cause a serious crash on the water. Here are three other reasons to avoid getting drunk while at sea or on a lake.
Understanding your rights under the law is important any time you find yourself interacting with law enforcement. While police may not overtly violate your rights, they often attempt to convince you to waive them. This can make the process of working with law enforcement during a traffic stop difficult. While you don't want to seem contentious or combative, you also don't want to waive your rights or get yourself into unnecessary trouble.
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. That can mean you have the right to refuse a search of your home or your vehicle. During a traffic stop, that can also mean refusing to comply with law enforcement's request for a chemical test to look for alcohol. However, it is important to understand that while law enforcement cannot compel you to perform the test, refusing it will still have consequences.
Immediately after realizing you're facing a DUI, your thoughts may turn to how your life could change. Beyond the potential for a jail sentence or fine, there are other things you have to worry about.
Socially, you may become an outcast from your friends or family. At work, you may struggle to maintain your job, to get there each day or could lose it as a result of a DUI conviction. Even your home could be threatened if you're unable to work and can't make payments. Sometimes, if you rent, you won't be able to get a job because of your criminal record.
Leading DUI defense representation you can rely on for 24/7 responsiveness, tenacious advocacy and expert knowledge. Attorney John L. Drennan is a qualified expert regarding the DataMaster Transportable (DMT) breath-testing machine.
Speak with a Charleston criminal lawyer today who will work with you directly, one-on-one.
Please call us at
843-352-4149 or email us to schedule a meeting or for prompt legal assistance.
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