Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
There are drunk drivers and then there are DRUNK drivers. We’re talking about the hardcore drunk drivers, or the ones who are busted with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher.
According to The Century Council, hardcore drunk drivers are busted with alarmingly high BAC levels, or are those who are repeat offenders and continue to get busted for driving while intoxicated.
Unfortunately, these hardcore drunk drivers account for the majority of alcohol-impaired fatalities. In an effort to help reduce the risks faced by the rest of us, officials with the Division on Addiction at Cambridge Health Alliance and The Century Council are launching a new project to test a Computerized Assessment and Referral System (CARS), which is a mental health assessment used in drunk driving intervention and treatment. They’ve already gained the support of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Our Cape Coral drunk driving accident lawyers understand that these kinds of accidents are completely preventable, yet we continue to lose thousands ever year as a result of someone who climbs behind the wheel after having too much to drink. Now, researchers will be using this new project to better understand the relationship between driving under the influence and the psychiatric profiles of serious offenders.
They’re also looking at better ways to treat and sentence hardcore drunk driver. It’s all in an effort to reduce recidivism.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 2,500 people killed in alcohol-related car accidents in the state of Florida in 2010. Of these fatalities, close to 450 of them were killed in accidents in which a driver with a BAC of .15 or higher was involved. That accounts for close to 20 percent of all of the accidents.
In 2011, there were close to 34,000 DUI convictions recorded in the Sunshine State.
Under Florida state law, any driver who is convicted of their second DUI is required to have an Ignition Interlock device installed in their vehicle. A judge can order an Interlock installed on first convictions depending on circumstances (usually for hardcore drunk drivers).
The truth of the matter is that no one can consume alcohol and drive safely. Drinking and driving causes accidents, injuries and fatalities each and every day. Officials should turn to tougher sentences and consequences to help to deter these incidents in the future.
Current Penalties for a Driver’s 1st DUI Conviction:
-Fines ranging from $250 to $500.
-Up to 50 hours of community service.
-No more than a year of probation.
-No more than 6 months behind bars.
-Imprisonment with BAC of .08 or higher with a minor in the vehicle, but for no more than 9 months.
Currently, the legal limit in the state of Florida for drivers over the age of 21 is .08. Regardless of how old you are drinking and driving is considered a serious offense. The average cost of a DUI, calculating all the time, defense, penalties, etc., runs about $8,000. And that’s money down the drain.
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, represents drunk driving car accident victims in Fort Myers, Naples, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and elsewhere. Call us for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
Florida: One of the Deadliest for Drunk Driving Car Accidents, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, December 30, 2012
The Fight Continues for Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents in Southwest Florida, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, August 5, 2012
