| Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driving | | | | a DUI traffic school or seminar. Repeat |
| While Intoxicated (DWI) laws vary according | | | | offenders may be subject to more severe |
| to the state of the offense. The most | | | | penalties up to and including permanent |
| important factor surrounding any of these | | | | removal of his or her driver's license. |
| laws is that the repercussions are generally | | | | Generally license suspension and revocation |
| steep and severe. Due to the rash of drunken | | | | occurs for repeat offenders. Most states |
| driving fatalities in the past half century | | | | have implemented a comprehensive system of |
| or so, most states have enacted harsh | | | | monitoring the driving privileges for an |
| penalties for anyone caught drinking and | | | | individual who has had his or her license |
| driving. The DUI laws of each state define a | | | | suspended but who has been granted limited |
| level at which an individual is considered | | | | driving rights. These individuals must |
| intoxicated. Although these levels may vary | | | | generally employ the use of a breathalyzer |
| slightly, for the most part, this level does | | | | system that has been installed in their |
| not exceed .08 blood alcohol content (BAC). | | | | vehicle and that locks the ignition if the |
| Any individual caught driving with a BAC | | | | individual fails the breathalyzer |
| higher than the state has defined as the | | | | requirements. Some DUI/DWI convictions can be |
| point of intoxication may be subject to | | | | expunged. Depending on the severity of the |
| fines, license suspension or revocation, and | | | | conviction and the age of the offender at the |
| even jail time. The severity of the offense | | | | time of the conviction, it may be possible to |
| and the number of DUI convictions are a | | | | seal the information from public access. In |
| primary determinant in the severity of the | | | | general, this process, and any other issues |
| penalty. Initial offenses may carry a | | | | surrounding a DUI/DWI offense will require |
| penalty of a fine and mandatory attendance at | | | | the services of an experienced DUI attorney. |