DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)

DWI can be interpreted as an abbreviation for driving while intoxicated or driving while impaired. You can be impaired by using drugs, plants or chemical compounds. The most common reason for DWI by far is the abuse of alcohol or alcohol intoxication.

Intoxication: A condition of diminished mental and physical capacity that occurs when the brain is exposed to alcohol resulting in temporary changes in mood, judgment, cognitive functioning, motor functioning, and behavior. An intoxicated person has slower, depressed mental acuity as a result of ingesting an inhalant, beverage or intravenous that has impairing substances in it.

Despite significant government spending and resources aimed to curb drinking and driving, hundreds of suspects are still arrested each day for driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, alcohol was involved in 40 percent of all fatal crashes in the nation for 2003. With rates that significant, drivers will continue be faced with the grave effects alcohol has on road safety and the potential danger impaired drivers inflict on the nations roads.

"When a person decides to operate a vehicle after drinking alcohol what they are driving becomes a 4,000 mechanized bomb," says Attorney David I. Fuchs, who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Many times a suspect who is stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated will be in a position where they have lost awareness of their actions, unable to connect their poor judgment with the consequences of their behaviors. According to Fuchs, these potential defendants must realize immediately the severity of consequences they face. Simple common sense actions such as respecting the police officer and following directions must be followed regardless of reason the officer stopped the driver, explains Fuchs.

"When an officer stops you they are there to administer the law and they have the power of life and death over you," said Fuchs, "many people just dont realize how important it is to stay in control of their actions."

In addition to respecting law officers, drivers should know the laws and how they will affect driving privileges. No driver is required to submit to unnecessary testing. Fuchs explained that a person who has alcohol in their blood does have the option to refuse blood alcohol testing. Refusing the test could result in immediate charges that in the long-term, with proper legal representation, would not result in the same penalties as a DWI conviction. For more feedback on this topic, contact an attorney in the appropriate state who is familiar with the applicable DUI laws.

Prevent intoxication, here is how to estimate the percent of alcohol in blood by number of drinks in relation to body weight.
Estimate your % like this:

• Multiply the serving size (in ounces) by the percent alcohol by volume to get the total ounces of alcohol.
• Then divide by 0.5 (the size of one standard drink).

You can get a DWI by having an blood alcohol level of .08 or more.

Recent DWI statistics:
Over 50% of all fatal highway crashes involving two or more cars are alcohol related.
Over 65% of all fatal single car crashes are alcohol related.
Over 36% percent of all adult pedestrian accidents are alcohol related.
80% of all fatal alcohol related auto crashes occur between 8 pm and 8 am.
36% of all adult pedestrian accidents involve an intoxicated pedestrian.