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DUI / DWI
Few people realize until they are arrested for Driving Under the Influence that a DUI is a criminal offense, not just a traffic violation. A DUI conviction on your record can have a serious impact on your future employment prospects, and can even result in prison time. Lawyers have contributed articles to the KnowledgeBase that can help you make sense of the DUI/DWI process by introducing you to some of the laws involved, describing the arrest procedure, and explaining some of the possible penalties.
DUI / DWI
Articles
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Recent Developments in Texas DWI Law
Provided by Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg
Recent efforts in Texas aimed at curbing drunk driving include warrantless, mandatory blood draws after a breath test refusal, rolling DWI checkpoints and the use of ignition interlock devices. Read More » -
Driving While Impaired: It Is More Than DUI
Provided by Shaffer & Engle Law Offices, LLC
Pennsylvania is now participating in the ARIDE efforts designed to help officers better detect drivers impaired by prescription or illicit drug use and help curb accidents and injuries. Read More » -
Legislation Imposes Additional Punishments on Drunk Drivers in New York
Provided by James M. Wagman
Recent legislation proposed by Governor Paterson increases the penalties against drivers who are convicted of drunk driving offenses with a child passenger in the vehicle. Read More » -
Arizona Supreme Court Ruling Makes it Easier to be Convicted of a DUI
Provided by Blumberg & Associates, P.C.
The Arizona Supreme Court decided to once and for all define what it means for a driver to be in "actual physical custody" of a car for purposes of state DUI laws. Read More » -
DUI: It’s Not Only About Drinking and Driving
Provided by Blumberg & Associates, P.C.
Law enforcement officers frequently issue DUI citations to impaired drivers operating a vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs and even prescribed drugs. Read More » -
Returning to School? Don't Drink, Drive and Lose Your License
Provided by Jerald Novak Attorney at Law
In Illinois, the penalties for underage drinking and driving are severe. Drivers under 21 lose their driving privileges if they are caught with any trace whatsoever of alcohol in their systems. Read More » -
Women Under the Influence - Chicago DUIs On the Rise
Provided by Jerald Novak Attorney at Law
In Chicago and across the country, an increasing number of women are finding themselves taking a backseat ride to the police station under DUI charges. Read More » -
College Students and Pennsylvania Criminal Charges
Provided by Randolph L. Goldman
Criminal charges for using a fake ID, underage drinking or marijuana possession can follow students around long after they have received their degrees. Read More » -
Getting Driving Relief After a DUI Conviction in Illinois
Provided by Jerald Novak
For many individuals who have been convicted of DUI, obtaining driving relief in the form of a restricted driving permit or full reinstatement of your driver's license is crucial. Read More » -
Maryland Legislature Passes New Drunk Driving Laws
Provided by Law Offices of Richard P. Arnold
The Maryland legislature has passed bills toughening the state's drunk driving laws, including a one-year driver's license suspension and participation in the Ignition Interlock System Program (IISP). Read More » -
Louisiana's New DWI Bill Proposes Tougher Sentencing
Provided by Law Offices of Troy G. Broussard, J.D.
Due to the high number of alcohol-related car accidents, Louisiana is considering a new bill that will strengthen DWI penalties. Read More » -
Maryland Provisional Licenses and Underage Drinking
Provided by Law Offices of Richard P. Arnold
A provisional license in Maryland is subject to certain conditions and restricts. Failure to abide by these conditions may result in serious consequences. It is a privilege, not a right. Read More » -
Ohio Senate Bill 17: Increased Penalties for Repeat OVI Offenders
Provided by Raymond T. Faller Co., LPA
Ohio Senate Bill 17, which went into effect on September 30, 2008, made significant changes to the state's OVI laws. Read More » -
New Jerseys DWI Ten-Year Step Down Rule
Provided by Bramnick, Rodriguez, Mitterhoff, Grabas & Woodruff
A look at sentencing issues surrounding DWI convictions. Read More » -
Michigan's Superdrunk Driver Law
Provided by Larin & Leonard
Michigan drivers should be aware of upcoming changes to state drunk driving laws, which feature increasingly harsh penalties for drivers with higher blood alcohol content levels. Read More » -
Texas Enables Police to Draw Blood From More Suspected Drunk Drivers
Provided by The Shapiro Law Firm
On September 1, Texas got tougher on drunk-driving suspects. The new law expands the circumstances in which a police officer must take a blood sample to test for alcohol content, without a warrant. Read More » -
Illinois Ups the Ante for First-Time DUI Offenders
Provided by The Law Offices of Thomas Glasgow, Ltd.
Illinois has doubled the penalties for first-time DUI offenders. It has also made ignition interlock devices mandatory for first-time offenders who want to reclaim their driving privileges. Read More » -
Consequences of Out-of-State Drunk Driving Convictions
Provided by Larkin, Axelrod, Ingrassia & Tetenbaum, L.L.P.
The Interstate Driver License Compact is an agreement among states to share information related to drivers' license suspensions and convictions for traffic violations of out-of-state residents. Read More » -
Unintended and Harsher Consequences for Traffic Violations
Provided by Brucar and Yetter, P.C.
Because of the complex laws regarding traffic offenses and sentencing, many Illinois drivers are facing unintended and more serious consequences for traffic violations. Read More » -
Pennsylvania DUI Penalties
Provided by Shaffer & Engle Law Offices, LLC
Pennsylvania's DUI penalties have increased in recent years. Now, the severity of penalties depends on the number of previous convictions and the BAC at the time of arrest. Read More » -
DWI Penalties Continue to Increase in New York
Provided by Silver, Forrester, Schisano, Lesser & Dreyer
Under New York's Driver Responsibility Program, the costs of a DWI conviction keep going up. Read More » -
2009 Changes to South Carolina's DUI Laws
Provided by Monckton Law Firm, P.A.
South Carolina, once among the most lenient states when it came to drunk driving penalties, recently passed sweeping changes to its DUI laws. Read More » -
100 Days of Summer H.E.A.T. Program Underway
Provided by Howard Weintraub PC
The State of Georgia is taking drunk driving seriously, not just during the summer holiday season, but also throughout the entire year. Read More » -
Can You "Twitter" Your Way Out of a DUI?
Provided by The Law Offices of Howard J. Weintraub, PC
With technology, the Internet can also be a double-edged sword when it is not respected for the mighty power it wields. Read More » -
Changes to Illinois DUI License Suspension
Provided by Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd.
Recent changes to the DUI laws in Illinois have left unresolved questions about eligibility for the new Monitoring Device Driving Permit. Read More » -
Supreme Court Decision Strengthens Defendants’ Rights
Provided by Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd.
The recent Supreme Court ruling in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts has shifted the dynamics of drunk-driving and drug cases across the country. Read More » -
Changes to Illinois DUI Laws: Consequences for Out-of-State Drivers
Provided by Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd.
The new DUI laws in Illinois have particularly negative consequences for people arrested for drunk driving who have out-of-state drivers' licenses. Read More » -
Former Top DUI Cop Faces False Arrest Lawsuits
Provided by Michael T. Norris, Ltd. and John W. Callahan, Ltd.
Recent investigations found that one of Chicago's top DUI enforcers falsified information in DUI arrests; now the former officer faces lawsuits from people who claim they were wrongly accused. Read More » -
NJ Drivers Face Stiff Penalties for DWI; Are Machines Telling the Truth?
Provided by James M. Porfido, Attorney at Law
NJ drivers charged with DWI offenses face stiff penalties including the ignition interlocking device. The possibility of device miscalculations and human error lead many to fight their cases in court. Read More » -
2009 Changes to California's DUI Laws
Provided by Law Offices of Donald M. Kelly
DUI charges are expensive and the costs keep going up. If you are facing a DUI charge, it is more important now than ever before to seek experienced legal representation. Read More » -
California Prepares for Labor Day With Increased Focus on DUI Offenses
Provided by Law Offices of Donald M. Kelly
Labor Day weekend is approaching, and across California law enforcement is cracking down on drunk driving. Read More » -
South Carolina Cracks Down on DUI
Provided by Richard J. Breibart
Once known for its lenient punishments for DUI, South Carolina passed tough new laws that came into effect February 10, 2009. Read More » -
Ohio Implements New Intoxilyzer 8000
Provided by Rittgers & Rittgers
If you are facing an OVI conviction based on an Intoxilyzer 8000 test result, it is important that you contact an attorney with experience in this area. Read More » -
Ohio Leads Nation's Surge In Female OVI
Provided by Rittgers & Rittgers
When Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced an increased targeting of impaired drivers, he specifically noted the national increase in female drivers arrested under drunk driving charges. Read More » -
A Very Expensive Night Out
Provided by Greenspan & Greenspan
People don't realize how much their evening out may end up costing them if they should decide to drive after having a few drinks. A 1st time DWI conviction in New York is estimated to cost up to $9500 Read More » -
Pennsylvania's Ignition Interlock Device Law
Provided by Law Offices of Basil D. Beck, III
In Pennsylvania, anyone receiving a second or subsequent DUI conviction is required to install an ignition interlock device into any vehicle they own. Read More » -
Felony DUIs in Illinois
Provided by The Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley
The penalties for DUIs in Illinois are among the toughest in the nation. As of January 1, 2009, the penalties for first time offenders doubled. Read More » -
Colorado Enacts More Restrictive DUI Penalties
Provided by Rosenthal & Heymann, L.L.C.
On January 1, 2009, Colorado's DUI laws changed in ways that every driver needs to be aware of before getting behind the wheel. Read More » -
Accuracy, Honesty and Rights: Field Sobriety Tests in Florida
Provided by Arnold & New Law Firm
In Florida, if you're pulled over for a DUI, the officer will usually perform a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and often a breathalyzer reading to secure a charge. Read More » -
Blood Draws of Suspected San Antonio Drunk Drivers Have Started
Provided by Rush & Gransee, L.C.
A new Texas law, effective September 1, 2009, expands police power in Texas for Mandatory Warrantless Blood Tests. This change will have many people suspected of DUI forced to give a blood sample. Read More » -
Arizona Court Clarifies Rights of Drunk Driving Suspects
Provided by Weingart Law Firm
Arizona law is clear: people suspected of drunk driving must expressly consent to invasive alcohol testing, or police must first get a valid search warrant. Read More » -
The Consequences of "Super Extreme" DUI in Arizona
Provided by Weingart Law Firm
Legislators are regularly pressured to provide tougher punishments for DUI convictions. In Arizona, they have responded by creating an offense known as "super extreme" DUI. Read More » -
What to Expect If You Are Arrested For DWI in Nassau County
Provided by Foley, Griffin, Jacobson & Faria, LLP
If you have been charged with a DWI in New York, it is important that you know that the days of walking into court and getting a slap on the wrist are over. Read More » -
Appellate Court Clarifies Arizona's Implied Consent Law
Provided by Law Offices of Howard A. Snader, LLC
Under Arizona law, a law enforcement officer may only take blood from someone suspected of DUI if that person expressly agrees to the blood draw, or if the officer has a warrant. Read More » -
Big Changes Coming for California DUI Cases
Provided by Ahmed & Sukaram, Attorneys at Law
The July 2009 California Supreme Court decision in People v. McNeal may have significant consequences for people accused of DUI in the state. Read More » -
Florida Drunk Driving Victims
Provided by Baird Law Group
Drunk driving accidents are a threat to the public in Florida. Each year there are thousands of alcohol-related car accidents, which are often fatal or cause serious injuries. Read More » -
Aggravated DUI Law Narrowly Misses Passage by Alabama State Legislature
Provided by Eversole Law Firm
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on increasing the penalties for DUI offenses across the country. It may be only a matter of time before Alabama becomes part of this national trend. Read More » -
New York DWI Law: Serious Penalties
Provided by Mark J. Sacco
In New York an individual convicted of a DWI may face serious penalties. An aggravated DWI conviction is even more severe, multiple offenses may rise to a felony conviction. Read More » -
The Heat Is On: DUI Enforcement in Colorado
Provided by Rosenthal & Heymann, LLC
The Colorado State Patrol has increased both saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to help make motorists aware of DUI laws. Read More » -
Controversial New Law Broadens Police Powers Against Drunk Drivers
Provided by The David Hunter Law Firm
A new Texas law gives police officers the ability to collect blood samples from some drivers suspected of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated without first obtaining a warrant. Read More »