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DUI - Frequently Asked Questions
By Vinodh Pushparaj

The other day i was talking to one of my friends over the phone, when he mentioned his brother's life is doomed. After asking what was it all about he mentioned his brother got caught in a DUI case. But i thought to myself, yes it is serious but isn't there help for these folks who don't know what needs to be done. I went fishing for more details to help my poor friend's family over the web. I was looking around for more information on what other people in similar situation would ask. This is a good start because, if you don't know what to ask to begin with it is going to be that much more difficult to get out of the situation.

What is DUI?

It stands for Driving Under Influence, or drunk driving. This means a person is intoxicated by the use of alcohol or other drugs to an extent that they are incapable of exercising their motor skills. This is not just for the cars or trucks it also applies for driving boats and aircrafts. I cannot think of a person who is already high flying high.

How bad is it?

In most jurisdictions in US and around the world it is not a simple offense it is considered criminal. This is because of the fact that when you are issued a license you clear a wriiten exam which includes full hand knowledge of the problems that happen due to DUI. Moreover this is dangerous to the unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians whose only fault is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. DUI is often fatal. Your license may be permanently revoked.

How is it measured?

The widely used term is BAC which stands for Blood alcohol content. This is expressed in terms of milligrams of alcohol per millilitres of blood, or as a percentage. (10 mg/100 ml = 0.01 g/100 g = 0.01 %). The typical level that is considered as a threhold is 0.05% but many countries have zero tolerance possibility.

Do medications account as DUI?

This is one mistake, a costly mistake that many folks make. Cough syrups and some over the counter drugs contains significant amount of alcohol. These contribute to the BAC and you may be considered a drunk driver if caught with a 0.04 or more.

Can i drive if my licensed got suspended?

No you cannot until the suspension period is complete. You should apply for a new license from a field office. More so often for first time offenders for minimal levels the peace officers may consider a suspension and issue a temporary license. In this case you may drive.

What is a chemical test and can i refuse it?

The test is needed to check the BAC and in most states you can refuse this test. There are many conditions in which you may reject the chemical test and get away with it. The punishments are more stricter when you refuse the chemical test. It is a good idea to completely understand the laws of you local state and states you may visit.

As always this article is based on research from around the web. You should consult your local state or country laws to understand the complete nature and penalities for DUI related. It is a good idea to consult a lawyer if you get into this situation.

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