January 11, 2013 (Press-News.org) The invincibility of youth. Many college kids drink alcohol and figure that the bad things that could happen will not happen to them. But a high proportion of alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents involve young drivers, especially males, so the Texas Department of Transportation is targeting college campuses with its dose-of-reality touring campaign "Drink. Drive. Go to Jail."
According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Texas Tech Police Sgt. Michael Macias reported that in Texas just under "14,000 males between ages 18 and 34 were responsible for DWI accidents in 2011."
In August 2012, the crime-deterrent program landed at Texas Tech in Lubbock, where college students got to see what it feels like to be arrested for driving while intoxicated. TxDOT, with the help of local law enforcement, simulated the experience with orange jumpsuits, mug shots and time in a jail cell on wheels.
The agency also plays the money card. One program activity lets people guess how expensive a first-time DWI conviction can be by breaking down the various components of a total "bill" of up to $17,000, possibly including:
- Fines
- Bail
- Legal fees
- Alcohol education classes
- Increased insurance premiums
- License reinstatement fees and future surcharges
- Vehicle impoundment costs
And it only gets more expensive (and other punishments more severe) with each subsequent DWI.
In addition to these financial consequences, other types of negative ramifications and penalties are possible from a drunk-driving conviction like:
- Incarceration
- Probation
- License suspension
- Criminal record that can limit educational, housing, vocational and financial opportunities
- Vehicle damage
- Ignition interlock device (mobile breath test installed in car)
- Remorse and guilt for causing injury or death to others
- Societal stigma
It's common knowledge that Texas leads among U.S. states in its annual numbers of DWI accidents and related fatalities, so it makes sense why public officials and law enforcement are trying to prevent drinking and driving any way they can, as reflected in the steepness of state DWI penalties.
Of course, it's always the best idea not to drink and drive. But people sometimes exercise poor judgment or are falsely accused. Anyone charged with drunk driving in Texas should seek the assistance of an experienced DWI defense attorney for advice and representation.
A lawyer can investigate the accident itself and review whether the police followed correct and legal procedures during the arrest and in administering chemical breath or blood tests, or field sobriety tests like whether the driver can balance on one foot or recite the alphabet.
In addition, legal counsel can advise and represent the defendant at every step of the process. For example, should a license suspension hearing be requested? Should the defendant consider negotiating a plea agreement or proceed to trial? Might the attorney be able to get the charges reduced?
Be sure to consult a knowledgeable Texas criminal defense lawyer instead of facing DWI with its potentially devastating consequences alone.
Article provided by Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg
Visit us at www.randallisenberg.com
TxDOT Teaches DWI Consequences with "Drink. Drive. Go To Jail." Program
The Texas Department of Transportation is targeting college campuses with its dose-of-reality touring campaign "Drink. Drive. Go to Jail."
2013-01-11
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Divorcing an Abuser: Protect Yourself and Your Finances
2013-01-11
Domestic abuse is an all-too-common problem in Georgia. Though domestic violence affects both genders, women are much more likely to be victims. According to the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, approximately one out of every four women will be affected by domestic violence at some point during their lives.
Domestic abuse is more than just physical attacks. It can take a number of different forms, including the following:
- Emotional abuse occurs when abusers call their partners names, are over-controlling, manipulative or humiliating toward their partners ...
Ohio Takes Drugged Driving Very Seriously
2013-01-11
Drugged driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, in that the effect of a drug on a driver's brain may impair him or her at a level that makes driving risky and even potentially lethal for him or herself, passengers, those in other vehicles, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
A recent example
In December, 2012, a Cortland, Ohio, man got five years in prison for his ninth felony conviction for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, known as an OVI conviction. According to The Vindicator, he also pleaded guilty to the related misdemeanor ...
Important Factors to Consider in Hiring a Business Litigation Attorney
2013-01-11
Your business provides your livelihood and presents your professional image and good reputation to the community. Through your business dealings, people learn about your expertise, ethics, talents, reliability and dedication to quality. In these dealings, you must make important decisions which ultimately affect your business profitability. These decisions are not always easy and sometimes result in disputes or disagreements, whether justified or not.
So when serious conflicts arise in your commercial dealings they can threaten the integrity of your entire business operation. ...
Court Ruling May Affect Liability in Florida Rear-End Accidents
2013-01-11
Many assume that it is an easy proposition to assign fault after a rear-end crash; however, that is not always the case. In the past, Florida law generally presumed that the rear driver was liable for the causing the crash. A new Florida Supreme Court case opens the door for drivers to argue that the negligence of the lead driver was the actual cause or a contributing factor in a Florida car accident.
The case at issue involved a 2005 three-car pileup in South Florida. The plaintiff in the case was driving the last car involved in the pile-up. She argued that the middle ...
San Antonio Bankruptcies Up in November 2012
2013-01-11
With the Great Recession now "officially" behind us, a lot of the public commentary is focused on how Americans' financial situations are slowly, but surely, improving. As nice as it sounds, this isn't the case for everybody. Too many households are still reeling from the economic crisis.
This is as true in San Antonio as it is in the rest of the country. In fact, recently released statistics from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, which encompasses the San Antonio area, show that bankruptcy filings in November 2012 were 16.5 percent ...
Payday Loans Bring Post-Holiday Blues for Texas Borrowers
2013-01-11
Now that the holiday season has passed and 2013 is officially here, many Texans are trying to make good on their New Year's resolutions to get their finances under control. Unfortunately, for individuals who relied on payday loans, car title loans or other types of storefront lending to finance their holiday spending, this may be easier said than done.
Payday loans offer a quick way for borrowers to get access to short-term loans, usually between $400 and $1,000. While these loans may not seem too costly at first, their strict terms and high fees can make them extremely ...
More Couples Using Technology to Co-Parent After Divorce
2013-01-11
When a couple with children breaks up, the drama doesn't stop once the divorce is finalized. Depending on the age of the children, the parents will have to work together as co-parents for years or even decades.
Unsurprisingly, the co-parenting relationship is the source of a lot of stress for many divorced couples in Georgia. After all the acrimony of the divorce, couples often find it hard to work together. At the same time, though, they are conscious of their divorce's impact on their children and want to avoid fighting in front of their kids.
Increasingly, these ...
Some Homeowners Policies May Put Limits on Coverage for Dog Bite Claims
2013-01-11
According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bite claims account for more than a third of all homeowners insurance liability claims. In 2011, insurers paid out approximately $479 million on these claims, an increase of 16 percent from the previous year.
When a dog bites someone, it is only fair that the victim receive compensation for his or her injuries. Normally, the dog owner's home insurance policy covers expenses related to bite claims. The costs are not insubstantial: according to the Insurance Information Institute, the average dog bite claim payout in ...
Take Control of Your Financial Future, Avoid Debt Settlement Companies
2013-01-11
As we begin a new year, many people in Texas and across the country who are struggling to escape increasing debts will make efforts to start fresh in 2013. Many will turn to reputable sources, such as attorneys, to receive advice on the best course of action for their specific situation. Unfortunately, though, many others will see hope in false promises made by debt settlement companies. For these people, although their intention may be to become debt free in 2013, debt settlement scams may actually leave them in a worse position than where they started.
The National ...
Washington's State Prosecutors Taking a Closer Look at Warrantless Searches
2013-01-11
Most people assume that since the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents "unreasonable search and seizure," they are protected against having their person or property searched without a warrant. That assumption is wrong, however, and Washington law enforcement has been heavily relying on a 1971 law designed to ferret out organized criminals to gather evidence about run-of-the-mill defendants.
When an Associated Press news story shined light on the practice of "special inquiries," the state's association of prosecuting attorneys decided ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Review article highlights urgent need for aflatoxin control strategies in Pakistan’s feed supply chain
Researchers reveal key differences in STING inhibition between humans and mice
Researchers generate lung cells from mouse fibroblasts in just 7 to 10 days
Prizewinner’s research reveals how immune responses to friendly skin microbiota could pave way for novel vaccination responses
Old aerial photos give scientists a new tool to predict sea level rise
20 million for courageous research at ISTA
Ships trigger high and unexpected emissions of the greenhouse gas methane
Optimizing laser irradiation: An in-silico meta-analysis of skin discoloration treatment
Climate crisis could force wild vanilla plants and pollinating insects apart, threatening global supply
Teens report spending 21% of each driving trip looking at their phone
Study explores the ‘social norms’ of distracted driving among teens
Diver-operated microscope brings hidden coral biology into focus
Enhancing the “feel-good” factor of urban vegetation using AI and street view images
A single genetic mutation may have made humans more vulnerable to cancer than chimpanzees
Innovative nanocomposite hydrogel shows promise for cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis treatment
2025 Guangci Laboratory Medicine Innovation and Development Conference
LabMed Discovery is included in the ICI World Journals database
LabMed Discovery is included in the China Open Access Journal (COAJ) database
Vaccination support program reduces pneumonia-related mortality by 25 percent among the elderly
Over decades, a healthy lifestyle outperforms metformin in preventing onset of Type 2 diabetes
Mental health disorders, malaria, and heart disease most affected by covid pandemic
Green transition will boost UK productivity
Billions voted in 2024, but major new report exposes cracks in global democracy
Researchers find “forever chemicals” impact the developing male brain
Quantum leap in precision sensing across technologies
Upgrading biocrude oil into sustainable aviation fuel using zeolite-supported iron-molybdenum carbide nanocatalysts
For effective science communication, ‘just the facts’ isn’t good enough
RT-EZ: A golden gate assembly toolkit for streamlined genetic engineering of rhodotorula toruloides
Stem Cell Reports announces five new early career editors
Support networks may be the missing link for college students who seek help for excessive drinking
[Press-News.org] TxDOT Teaches DWI Consequences with "Drink. Drive. Go To Jail." ProgramThe Texas Department of Transportation is targeting college campuses with its dose-of-reality touring campaign "Drink. Drive. Go to Jail."