Driving Under the Influence Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How serious is the problem?
- How does the DUI program impact young people?
- What are the penalties for DUI?
- How much does a DUI Cost?
- How much alcohol does it take to impair driving?
- What is blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
- Is it safe to drive after drinking modest amounts of alcohol?
- What is “Admin per se?”
- When do most DUIs occur?
Drunk driving is the most frequently committed crime in the United States. In 2004, approximately 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under-the-influence of alcohol or narcotics.
It is estimated that alcohol and other drugs are a factor in 39 percent of all fatal automobile accidents and one-fifth of all accidents involving injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2004, 42,636 people were killed on our nation’s highways; 39 percent of these fatalities involved alcohol. Alcohol-related injuries continue to be a serious threat to both drivers and passengers on the road. In 2004, over 248,000 people in the United States suffered injuries in alcohol-related crashes.
About 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. An alcohol-related motor vehicle crash kills someone every 31 minutes and injures someone every 2 minutes. Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for every age between the ages of 3 and 33.
Beyond the tragedy of lost lives and painful recovery from injuries, alcohol-related accidents exact a huge economic cost. In 2002, the financial costs associated with alcohol-related crashes in the U.S. were estimated at $51 billion annually.
How does the DUI problem impact young people?
The alcohol-related traffic fatality rate for youth has been cut by over half since 1988. However, youth are still over represented in fatal crashes compared to the older population. In 2004, 21 percent of the children under age 15 killed in crashes were killed in alcohol-related crashes.
Trends indicate:
- The percent of alcohol-related fatalities has declined from 60 percent in 1982 to 39 percent in 2004.
- Male drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes are almost twice as likely as female drivers to be intoxicated with a BAC of .08 percent or greater.
What are the penalties for DUI?
- Fines/Penalties—approximately $300 - $5,000
- Jail/Community Service—2 days to 2 years
- DUI Treatment Program—3, 18, or 30 months
- Drivers License Suspension—4 months to 5 years
Costs for DUI have been estimated to be more than $5,540. (Actual costs may vary. This amount does not include attorney fees or lost wages due to court appearances.) Here is a conservative itemized breakdown for a first DUI offense:
- Fines/Penalties—$1,500
- Tow/Impound Fee—190
- DUI Treatment Program—550
- Insurance Increase—2,700
- Restitution Fund—500
- DMV Reissue Fee—100
- Total Approximate Cost:—$5,540
How much alcohol does it take to impair driving?
This depends on several factors:
- Your Weight. It takes less alcohol to become intoxicated if you weigh 120 pounds than if you weigh 180 pounds.
- Whether you are drinking on a full or empty stomach. It takes less time to get intoxicated if you drink on an empty stomach.
- How many drinks you have and their alcohol content.
- How long you have been drinking.
- Whether you are taking any medicines or drugs, which may combine with alcohol to increase the effect of alcohol on your driving ability.
What is blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
Blood Alcohol Concentration is a measure of the amount of alcohol in the blood stream expressed as a percentage. The illegal BAC level in California is set at .08 percent. A person weighing 150 pounds, drinking at the rate of 1.5 ounces of alcohol (the approximate amount found in one 12-ounce can of beer or one glass of wine) per half hour, would need:
- Two drinks—to reach a BAC of 0.05%
- Three drinks—to reach a BAC of nearly 0.08%
- Four drinks—to reach a BAC of 0.10%
- Six drinks—to reach a BAC of 0.15%
Is it safe to drive after drinking modest amounts of alcohol?
Just a drink or two can make someone behind the wheel a threat to themselves and to others. Drinking alcohol affects a driver’s coordination, reaction time, and vision (particularly at night). Long before any outward signs of impairment are recognized, the driver’s judgment, emotions, and confidence are adversely effected. Even at a BAC as low as .02 percent, alcohol affects driving ability and crash likelihood. The probability of crash begins to increase significantly at .05 percent BAC and climbs rapidly after about .08 percent BAC.
“Admin per se” refers to a relatively new procedure, administrative license suspension, in which a driver’s license may be taken before conviction when a driver fails or refuses to take a chemical test for alcohol. As of 2004, 45 states including Washington, D.C. had administrative license suspension laws. In California a driver’s license is suspended for four months on a first offense, and one year for a second offense.
Most DUIs occur at night (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.). In 2004, 30 percent of all fatal crashes during the week were alcohol related, compared to 51 percent on weekends. For all crashes, the alcohol involvement rate was 5 percent during the week and 12 percent during the weekend.