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Kitsap County, WA Teen Accused of Drunk Driving

30 08.09

A 19-year-old Eatonville woman was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after she flipped her car near Seabeck-Holly Road’s intersection with Christopher Road.

A witness to the crash told Kitsap County sheriff’s office deputies about seeing the car weave across both lanes of traffic at 8:30 p.m.

The woman was driving along the 5200 block of Seabeck Holly Road when she lost control of her car, causing it to go into the ditch of the southbound lane. The witness said he saw the woman accelerate when she hit the ditch, causing the car to shoot into the air and flip end over end, according to sheriff’s office reports.

The car landed in the middle of the road. When deputies arrived the woman was outside of the car, declining medical attention and saying she was fine. She smelled like alcohol and couldn’t stand up straight without swaying back and forth.

She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. Soon after, her blood-alcohol content was measured. It registered at 0.154, almost double the legal limit.

Washington drunk driving cases are most commonly referred to as DUI or driving under the influence and sometimes DWI – Driving While Intoxicated. Washington does have a “per se” law, meaning that you may be convicted of a DUI in Washington if you drive with an alcohol level of .08 or greater.

Under Washington DUI Law If someone is arrested for Kitsap County drunk driving, DUI or DWI, refusal to take a chemical test can be used against them in court, and also result in harsher penalties in court and with their driving privilege.

The washout period for prior drunk driving convictions is 7 years.

When arrested for DUI in Kitsap County, Washington it couldn’t hurt to contact a Kitsap, County DUI lawyer for a free confidential initial consultation.

Tougher Wisconsin DUI Laws on Their Way

30 08.09

Wisconsin could enable tougher drunk driving laws as soon as mid September.

First, a 4th DUI will be considered a felony under the new law. Currently a 5th time DUI in Wisconsin is considered a felony. Also, on the bill co-sponsored by Republican Tony Staskunas is mandatory ignition interlock use for repeat offenders.

The bill states an offender will have to at least partially pay for the installation and maintenance of the device. What this means exactly is unclear at the moment.

Wisconsin drunk driving law (DUI / OWI) prohibits a person from driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a combination of alcohol and a controlled substance, or any other drug which makes a person less capable of safely driving. If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Wisconsin you should contact a Wisconsin DUI lawyer immediatly. During your search, visit the Law Firm Directory to find a DUI lawyer.

8 DUI Arrests at Kansas City DUI Checkpoint

30 08.09

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department conducted a Sobriety Checkpoint on August 28, 2009 from 2300 hours to 0400 hours at 56th & Ward Parkway. Southbound traffic was checked with total of 494 vehicles stopped. A total number of 8 DUI arrests were made, along with 1 Possession of Marijuana, 2 Hazardous Moving Violations, 3 Other Traffic Violations, and 6 KC Warrants.

If you are convicted of a Missouri DUI you face the penalties of jail time, heft fines, prabation, suspension of your drivers license and mandatory DUI classes. Not to mention the embarrassment. Only a Kansas City DUI lawyer can help you avoid these penalties.

Kansas City DUI Lawyers

Lawyers specialzing in Missouri DUI law deal with DUI cases everyday. The good ones help there clients avoid a Missouri DUI conviction by investigating the constitutionality of the stop, the procedures used in obtaining evidence, the constitutionality of any statements you gave, and the accuracy of any tests administered.

Top KC DUI lawyers have the experience and understanding to represent you if you have been charged with an alcohol related offense in Missouri. Contact a Kansas City, Missouri DUI lawyer today for a free consultation.

New Missouri DUI Laws Laid Out

27 08.09

New Missouri DUI laws have been laid out and can go into affect as early as tomorrow.

HB 62 – Crime Bill

Under this bill Missouri DUI offenders will be required to submit to chemical testing regardless if the offender is driving a vehicle.

Five Year Denial

Any person who is found guilty of two DUI offenses within 5 years will be denied a driver’s license for 5 years after. The person will also waive the right to be represented by an attorney in subsequent offenses.

Consent to Chemical Test

The chemical test laws have changed for individuals under the age of 21. Any person who is underage and purchases, possesses, or is under the influence of alcohol, will have given implied consent to a chemical test or breath test.

This last law seems to be the most extreme. Implied consent while driving has long been understood to mean that a person receives a privilege to operate a vehicle, and that privilege may be removed at will of the state. By signing a driver’s license application, the person agrees to submit a chemical test or forfeit their driving privileges.

Upcoming Kansas City DUI Checkpoints

27 08.09

The Kansas City, Missouri Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint on the weekend of September 4-6, 2009 at a location in Kansas City, Missouri that is known for occurrence of DUI related crashes or DUI arrests. This checkpoint will be preceded with a briefing at the Agnes Police Facility, 1328 Agnes at 2300 hours Crime Scene KC reports.

If you are convicted of a Missouri DUI you face the penalties of jail time, heft fines, prabation, suspension of your drivers license and mandatory DUI classes. Not to mention the embarrassment. Only a Kansas City DUI lawyer can help you avoid these penalties.

Kansas City DUI Lawyers

Lawyers specialzing in Missouri DUI law deal with DUI cases everyday. The good ones help there clients avoid a Missouri DUI conviction by investigating the constitutionality of the stop, the procedures used in obtaining evidence, the constitutionality of any statements you gave, and the accuracy of any tests administered.

Top KC DUI lawyers have the experience and understanding to represent you if you have been charged with an alcohol related offense in Missouri. Contact a Kansas City, Missouri DUI lawyer today for a free consultation.

Alabama DUI Laws and Penalties

25 08.09

In the state of Alabama you can be arrested for an Alabama DUI based on one of two theories. First, you can be arrested simply for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the officer feels you are too impaired to drive he can arrest you.

Second is the per se law which states that you cannot drive with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08% or higher. If your blood tests above the legal limit, you will be arrested for a AL DUI, no matter what your driving ability is. In the state of Alabama you do not have to be driving the car to be arrested for a DUI offense. If you are simply in the control of a vehicle, even if it is not moving, you can be charged with drunk driving.

If you refuse a chemical test your license will be automatically suspended for at least 3 months (for first offense within 5 years.) It is argued that if you do refuse your test it can help you in criminal court. You will lose your license, but may help you beat your Alabama DUI charge and avoid much more costlier penalties.

Alabama DUI Arrests

If you’ve been arrested for DUI, Alabama DUI law allows only 10 days after your arrest for your DUI lawyer to make a request with the Alabama Department of Public Safety for a hearing to save your Driver’s License. Otherwise, your licenses will be automatically suspended. This is why you should contact an Alabama DUI lawyer ASAP when arrested for DUI in AL. The administrative licensing hearing does not deal with whether you are guilty of a criminal act, but instead addresses the circumstances surrounding your arrest such as:

  • Was your arrest based on reasonable grounds?
  • Did the officer request that you take a test?
  • Were you made aware of the consequences if you refused or failed the test?
  • Did you refuse or fail the test?
  • Should your license be suspended or revoked?

Alabama DUI Criminal Penalties

If you are convicted of an Alabama DUI there is a broad range of penalties you can face. Much of this relies on your previous DUI convictions in the past 5 years:

First time Alabama DUI Penalties

  • Up to $2,100 in fines
  • Up to 1 year in jail, with no minimum sentence ( no jail time possible)
  • Alcohol assessment and evaluation
  • Possible alcohol treatment program
  • Loss of your Drivers License for a Minimum of 90 days

Second time Alabama DUI Penalties

  • Up to $5,100 in fines
  • 5 days-1 year in jail
  • 30 days of community service
  • Loss of your drivers license for a minimum of 1  year

Third time Alabama DUI Penalties

  • Up to $10,100 in fines
  • 60 days to 1 year in jail
  • Loss of your drivers license for a minimum of 3 years
  • Court Ordered Alcohol Treatment Program

Fourth time Alabama DUI Penalties

  • Considered a Class C Felony
  • Up to $10,100 in fines
  • 1-10 years in jail
  • Loss of Drivers License for 5 years
  • Court Ordered Alcohol Abuse Program

    Reinstating your driver’s license when all is said and done will cost $275.

Many of these penalties (which can also include an installation of an ignition interlock device in your car) are negotiable upon a guilty plea and/or the expertise of an Alabama DUI Lawyer. Not only can a DUI lawyer help negotiate the best deal with a guilty plea, but it’s possible they can get you a not guilty sentence if your rights were violated at the time of your Alabama DUI arrest. Many AL DUI lawyers offer free consultations to discuss the unique circumstances of your case.

Alabama DUI Insurance Costs

If you are convicted of an Alabama DUI, more often than not, your insurance company will find out about the DUI and will deal with you in one of two ways. Typically, your rates will go up, sometimes substantially, or, the company will simply cancel your policy. If your insurance company raises your premiums but keeps you as an insured, you will likely be labeled a “high-risk driver.” You may be required by the insurance company to provide the Alabama DMV with an SR-22 Proof of Insurance Certificate, which removes your license suspension by providing the state with proof that you are insured.

Obtaining a Hardship License in Alabama

Alabama does not offer a hardship license if your license has been suspended or revoked. This means you will not be given special permission to drive to and from work or to drive on the job.

Man Sends 3 to Hospital, Charged With Alabama DUI

25 08.09

A man has been charged with an Alabama DUI after hitting three cyclists with his vehicle. The suspect was arrested and taken to the Baldwin County Jail after the accident and charged with Alabama drunk driving.

Each of the cyclists was hospitalized after the accident, but none sustained serious or life threatening injuries from the accident.

Under the Circumstances Alabama DUI law allows a range of penalties from up to a year in jail if it is a first or second DUI.

Georgia Senator Suggests Strict DUI Laws for NY

25 08.09

A Georgia lawmaker is suggesting that New York should use Georgia’s strict penalties on drivers who transport children while under the influence.

State Sen. Gail Buckner said she offered her 1992 legislation to New York Gov. David Paterson as a model as he works for tougher penalties in his state.

The Georgia DUI law carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison if an alcohol-related crash results in the serious injury or death of a young passenger.

Paterson is backing new legislation that would make a DUI in New York  with children in the car a felony. He is responding to the wrong-way crash last month that killed eight people, including the driver, on Long Island.

DUI Offenders to Wash Cars for Madd in Bristol, TN

25 08.09

This weekend Tennessee DUI offenders will be washing cars for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD.)

The car wash at an Auto Zone parts store on Saturday costs $10 and the money goes to benefit MADD. “They’re going to do all the work and we’re going to reap all the benefits,” MADD local coordinator Rosalie Smith said.

The Bristol Herald Courier reports the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office will transport offenders to the store, where their volunteer labor counts double toward their jail hours.

Sheriff Wayne Anderson said drunken driving offenses run the social and economic spectrum. He said there are between 50 and 100 inmates on any given day who are DUI offenders. He said they are selecting inmates on a volunteer basis.

“It might even be their first time arrested,” Anderson said. “But it’s not their first time out drinking and driving. MADD is very powerful when it comes to legislation. I’d like to see us get more people involved.”

Anderson said a similar project has been done before, and the inmates “really enjoyed it. They felt like they were giving back.”

NBA Forward Arrested for DUI in Temple Terrace, Florida

24 08.09

Denver Nuggets reserve forward Renaldo Balkman has been arrested for a Florida DUI.

Balkman, 25, was arrested by Temple Terrace, Fla., officers at 4 a.m. Saturday after he refused a blood-alcohol test, according to a police report on the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office website.

Balkman was released after posting $500 bond.

Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said the team was aware of Balkman’s arrest but declined further comment “out of respect for the legal process.

The penalties for a Florida DUI very greatly on the circumstances of your case. In many instances a Florida DUI lawyer can help you avoid a Florida DUI conviction altogether by showing that your rights were violated when you were stopped by the police.

If you have been accused of a Florida DUI you should know you only have ten days to request a license hearing with the DMV to avoid a automatic license suspension. Any other questions you have can be answered by a Florida DUI lawyer, many of which offer free consultations.

Florida DUI lawyers

Charlotte County, Florida DUI Lawyer – John Musca

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