Operating Under The Influence

By Paul Dirchens

Operating a vehicle while under the influence is nowadays something that is common for both teenagers and adults. However, it is most frequently seen among celebrities, teenagers and college students. This is easily explained too, because the celebrities go to hot clubs, teens just see it as a cool to do and college students have their frat parties. Unfortunately, it is also now the average that every 40 minutes someone is killed by an intoxicated driver.

In the majority of states drunk driving is referred to or more commonly called DUI or DWI while a few use the term OUI but whichever it is called the penalties are similar , but depending on which state the specific guidelines and laws can vary. If you have a (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher it is a criminal offense and if you are under 21 it will differ more since the legal age, in most states, is 21 years old.

In a survey taken in 1997 people 18 years and older were asked if they drove while alcohol impaired and 2.1 replied yes. The same survey in 2002 had a 2.3 yes response from Americans. That is quite an increase in 5 years of people driving while impaired in the survey and since then has likely gone up. In the United Stated each year reportedly 20% of the fatalities on the road are the result of driving under the influence. If serious injury or worse, death, occurs as a result of OUI there would be more than just charges.

It is human nature to want to party and have fun, but to keep it “fun” it needs to be done responsibly. This is particularly true of teens. Although teens should not be drinking it is inevitable that they will so a few pieces of advice need to be given. One thing that should be planned ahead is deciding on a designated driver or do not drive at all when intoxicated. Either sleep at a friend’s house where you are or sleep in your car, if need be!

Of course nobody wants to see any of their loved ones get hurt for no reason and that is also why in almost every state law enforcement is harshly cracking down on drivers who are under the influence. Even if someone is just suspected of being intoxicated then they are pulled over and have to undergo tests to determine if they are sober or not. This is done by giving field sobriety exercises or chemical testing.

The field sobriety test consists of various exercises that the driver has to perform. These include the walk and turn, nystagmus, standing on just one leg, the Romberg balance test and touching the nose with a finger. Most of those tests explain themselves, but the nystagmus exercise is when a law officer puts an object around a foot away from the driver’s face and then moves it back and forth. The purpose of this is to watch the driver’s eyes and see the reaction.

Should a chemical test be done it will consist of a breathalyzer, blood and urine samples. The breathalyzer is blown into by the driver so an alcohol count can be done and blood and urine are done in a hospital.

Don’t drive if you are under the influence of anything. No matter who you are like a star, kid, teenager or adult, an OUI will look bad on your record.

To read more good information about Maine OUI, try these blogs with posts on DUI laws in Maine.

Article kindly provided by UberArticles.com

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