Operating any type of vehicle while under the effect of either drugs or alcohol is a violation of the law in all 50 states. Several tests are in use today to determine if a driver has ingested to much alcohol to be able to safely operate a vehicle, or possibly under the effects of a controlled substance. The vast majority of the time, an officer of the law who has cause to believe that a driver is intoxicated will carry out a field sobriety test. An officer may require that you walk in an absolutely straight line, staying in a stationary position with your arms held out away from your body then touching the tip of your nose with your pointing finger or reciting the alphabet. Should you fail any of these field sobriety tests, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble.
BAC or Blood Alcohol Content
It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in the United States if you have a blood alcohol content of .08% or more. The number refers to the amount of alcohol in your blood.These numbers are usually deduced from what is known as a breathalyzer, or a direct blood test It is a common practice in most of the country for an officer to first conduct a field sobriety test and then move to the more conclusive breathalyzer If need be, a urine or blood test may also be administered once arrested. Of course, this is generally left to the discretion of the arresting officer. The arresting officer is usually given the choice to request that such tests be administered.
Penalty
For many years drunk driving, DWI or driving under influence in the United States was treated as a minor offense. Prior to the current day, it was very common for individuals to receive a myriad of citations for driving while intoxicated before they had to face any real consequences. Thankfully, things have evolved over the years in this respect, and today many people will be punished harshly even for a first offense. Community service, drinking and driving education, driver’s license revocation, and even the mandate that your vehicle require that your pass a breathalyzer before the ignition will start are all possible forms of punishment if you choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The Conclusion
To avoid any risk that you will become the subject of a DWI arrest, the control is in your hands. If you have been drinking, the safest bet is to avoid getting behind the wheel. When you have plans for a night out that will include the consumption of alcohol you should call a cab or designate a friend to stay sober and drive you. A minimal consumption of alcohol can have a dramatic effect on your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you choose to drive after you have been drinking, you are running the risk of causing an accident which may not only affect your life drastically, but the lives of other drivers on the road. Furthermore, if you are involved in an accident while you are under the influence of alcohol and you survive, you will be deemed responsible for the injuries or death of any individuals involved in the accident. The criminal charges which you could be facing will be very serious. There is not one rational argument which can justify driving while intoxicated, so you should avoid doing so at all costs.
You must not leave things up to chance when seeking Minnesota Criminal Defense Attorneys to represent your interests. To anyone who finds themselves facing DWI charges in Minnesota, make sure that you talk to a Minnesota DWI Attorney Who knows the law. Learn more at our website at MinnesotaCriminalDefenseAttorneys.com
