Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

This week I will cover the effects of driving while under the influence of alcohol (DUI). In 2007 California law enforcement agencies arrested 203,866 people for DUI and 1347 people died on California’s roadways in collisions where alcohol was involved. In 2008 the Woodland Police Department arrested 409 people for DUI. These numbers are very high and remain relatively constant with slight decreases and increases over the years.

Consuming alcohol prior to driving leads to decreased muscle control, decreased peripheral vision, and diminished decision making ability. The California Vehicle Code states, “It is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of any alcoholic beverage and drug, to drive a vehicle.” Calicornia has set a .08% blood alcohol content (BAC). The .08 BAC is known as a “per se” limit which means presumed as true. Drivers under 21 years old have a per se limit .05% BAC while a .05% BAC is set for drivers under 21 to be under the influence. Even though the .05 BAC is set for drivers under 21 it is unlawful for a driver under 21 to have a .01% BAC while driving.

A driver is presumed to be under the influence with a BAC of .08 or greater but a driver can also be arrested for driving with a BAC lower than .08 if they show signs of impairment during field sobriety tests.

The costs of a DUI can vary with prior convictions. A first time DUI offender is faced with minimum court costs of $4200. This included the court fines, DUI classes, and the DUI offender work program. Depending on your insurance company a DUI arrest can increase your vehicle insurance by $4500 over three years. The total minimum amount is $8,700. If a person is arrested for a second DUI offense the fees increase sharply.

DUI prevention starts with personal responsibility. Planning to have a designated driver or calling a taxi are effective ways of avoiding DUI arrests. A person who is with an impaired friend also can assist with calling a taxi, talking an impaired person out of driving, or calling the police prior to an impaired person trying to drive. Preventing a friend form driving while intoxicated, preventing a friend’s arrest, preventing a potential collision, and saving a friend a lot of money is exactly what friends are for.

People who are prescribed medication by a doctor can also be impaired by their medications. Just because a person is prescribed a medication by a doctor does not relieve them from the responsibility to know when they are impaired. Many commonly prescribed medications that can affect a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. If you are prescribed medications please read the warning label and ask your doctor is the medication can affect driving.

Thank you for taking the time to read the column. This column is intended to help educate the public and show that the Woodland Police Department is committed to providing the highest level of law enforcement services available.