Strict New Laws Will Affect Drunk Drivers
New laws have been passed by the federal government and state legislatures regarding drunk driving. This action is considered a serious offense by most states and penalties are becoming more severe with multiple convictions. In an effort to decrease drunk driving many states are giving harsher penalties for even first time offenders.
The state of California has a Three Strikes law that includes drunk driving convictions. With the new laws, if a person accumulates three strikes they can expect a longer prison sentence than under previous laws. This can include a lifetime imprisonment sentence for multiple drunk driving offenders.
In some states devices in the car can be used to deter people from drinking and driving. Ignition interlock devices are some of the most common ones used to decrease drunk driving. The driver must pass a breathalyzer test before the car will start. These devices are not cheap, however, and the owner of the vehicle must pay for installation. It can be even more expensive if the owner has to go to a bigger city to find a mechanic who can install the device.
Even after a first time offender drunk driving conviction, some states will require AA, or a similar program, to be taken. Some courts will decide that if the person completes this course it is punishment enough for the crime. The conviction will then be erased from the person’s record. This is similar to a First Offender Act crime.
Even community service and rehab courses are quite severe under these new laws. The course requirements or hours to be worked can be considerably harder and longer. Community service can involve quite physically challenging service jobs, but it is usually preferable to spending weekends or a stretch of time in jail.
There are changes in the law concerning the consideration of drunk driving as a probation violation. There are often lower legal limits to drinking, if permitted at all, for those on probation. This is as opposed to having the same legal limits as a first time offender. In an effort to reduce the number of drunk driving accidents, this zero tolerance policy was introduced.
This information is provided solely for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
