Posted on January 13, 2017 in DWI / DUI

Mothers Against Driving® or MADD, the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to protecting families from those choosing to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, at last count posted 600 official chapters across the United States, Texas included.

Currently in the great state of Texas alone, MADD® currently covers each navigational region as offices can be found in such Texas cities as

• Austin,
• El Paso,
• Houston,
• Irvine,
• San Antonio, and
• Tyler.

Following the death of a founding member’s daughter due to an alcohol-related crash on September 5, 1980, MADD has been promoting their message of no more victims and has recently published viable information for the public to become involved in their campaign.

How to Identify a Possible Impaired Driver

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 Posted on January 03, 2017 in DWI / DUI

One dark and snowy night in Paris, 2008, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp were frustrated and troubled when trying to hail a cab. Thinking there had to be a better way, their solution would revolutionize how we get from Point A to Point B with just a few clicks on our smartphones. Uber was born.

By downloading the Uber app, we now can rely seemingly on technology to solve

our logistical needs. Need a ride, have a package to deliver or without worry, plan a night out on the town without a possible arrest looming for driving while under the influence (DWI)? With one quick tap of an app, a low-cost car is on its way.

Great ideas beget competition and in 2012, Lyft, another private transportation startup, also launched a mobile app and now operates in 65 countries and the United States and continues to expand its horizons. Uber is doing the same.

Although these private ride-share companies provide transportation for many people for many different reasons it should be evident that by requesting a ride with Uber or Lyft would be instrumental in decreasing the number of DWI arrests and related vehicle accidents.

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 Posted on December 20, 2016 in DWI / DUI

A Chattanooga, Tennessee man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of reckless endangerment and reckless driving resulting in the deaths of five elementary school children. Additionally, two dozen children were transported to local hospitals to assess injuries.

First responders worked for hours to free the children from the twisted wreckage while parents anxiously looked on.

The probable cause, speeding. It has been reported that the bus was excessively accelerating, lost control around a bend and nearly ripped in two as it hit a tree.

Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher described the scene as “every public safety professional’s worst nightmare”. No doubt there will be additional testing for possible driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.

As the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation into the crash, it is estimated, on a national level, that school buses still remain the safest mode of transportation for school districts. As the investigation and possible additional charges remain to be seen, some parents may be left wondering as to just how safe are their children?

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 Posted on November 30, 2016 in DWI / DUI

In the state of Texas, even a first DUI/DWI can result in heavy penalties, including the loss of a license, jail time, fines, and an annual fee to retain your license once it can be reinstated. What happens, though, when a first mistake turns into a second or third? What are the consequences for those who are caught driving intoxicated years later, or beyond a third time? The following outlines the laws in Texas for subsequent DWI convictions.

Second and Third DUI Convictions

Texas has an indefinite “lookback” period, meaning your DUIs and DWIs are never truly forgotten by the justice system. Every conviction counts against you, regardless of how much time has lapsed. So, even if your last conviction was 20 years ago, and you were recently arrested for an allegedly driving intoxicated, you are looking at charges for a second DWI.

If convicted, you could face up to a year in jail, a two-year suspension of your driver’s license, an annual fee to retain your license to retain your license once it can be reinstated, and a fine of up to $4,000. If your second conviction is within five years from your first, you must also have an interlock ignition device installed in your vehicle. This prevents you from operating your vehicle if you have been drinking.

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 Posted on November 13, 2016 in DWI / DUI

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) correlates impaired driving or driving under the influence (DUI) with an even larger problem, alcohol misuse, and abuse. This definition is supported by cold hard financial data as vehicle accidents total over $37 billion annually with over 52 percent of fatalities related directly to driving under the influence.

With the advent of the holiday season through to New Year’s Eve, the results can be even more devastating and is often referred to as "DUI season." The unofficial start of DUI season is typically Thanksgiving Eve, sometimes referred to as "Black Wednesday" and is documented to be the busiest night of the year for DUI arrests.

As these startling statistics continue to raise concerns, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD), a non-profit organization dedicated to stopping impaired driving is proudly once again promoting the Tie One On For Safety® Campaign.

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 Posted on October 29, 2016 in DWI / DUI

Occurring several weekends throughout the year, Texas police officers make a valiant effort to lessen the numbers of fatalities and other accidents resulting from DUI and DWI. The most well-known efforts around the state are "No-Refusal Weekends." These events are named aptly in that refusal for testing becomes more difficult, however, it may be very misleading to unassuming drivers unfamiliar with their rights during these situations. As a United States citizen, you have certain constitutional rights on which even Texas officers cannot infringe.

How No-Refusal Weekends Work

No-Refusal Weekends occur around major holidays or sporting events, such as Thanksgiving Day, New Years, and the Super Bowl. With plenty of audio and visual advertisement alerting drivers the weekend is near, the intent is to crack down on the amount of drivers operating vehicles while intoxicated. However, the name is confusing to many who incorrectly assume you have to succumb to any requested testing.

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 Posted on October 12, 2016 in DWI / DUI

When you are charged and convicted of a DWI or DUI, there are certain limitations imposed by the state. One obvious alteration is the loss of unlimited driving privileges, in some cases. Did you also know that a DUI on your record can prevent you from traveling to other countries? For some, a travel ban puts a damper on their holiday travel dreams. For others, this can be a massive disruption to their work productivity.

Access Denied

Throughout the United States, if you have been convicted of a DUI and have taken care of it legally, you typically can travel across borders to other states. Although the United States is becoming increasingly progressive through its laws, not all countries feel the same way. Therefore, even if the law locally is a misdemeanor or you can retain certain privileges due to your circumstances, constituents can deny access. In some of these countries, if you have had one DUI for either alcohol or drugs, you are unable to enter the country for ten years. Frequently traveled countries follow these current guidelines:

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 Posted on September 30, 2016 in DWI / DUI

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) reports that every 20 minutes someone is either injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident involving driving while intoxicated (DWI). As impairment begins with the first drink and depends heavily on gender, body weight, number of drinks consumed and the amount of food ingested, some people may become legally intoxicated quite quickly.

Under Texas law, someone is legally intoxicated if a person reaches a blood or breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08. The state also reserves the right to prosecute for DWI for anyone who is visually impaired while driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances.

The state imposes fines, loss of driver's license, and jail time based on the number of offenses a driver has acquired. But, facing a DWI with a minor child as a passenger can be an even more sobering experience. Those arrested for DWI with a minor passenger can be facing the following:

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 Posted on September 15, 2016 in DWI / DUI

Mothers Against Drunk Driving®, or better known as MADD, is currently the largest nonprofit in the United States dedicated to protecting families from the dangers of those choosing to drive while under the influence (DUI or DWI) of alcohol or an illegal substance. Founded by Candy Lightner on May 3, 1980, following the tragic death of her daughter at the hands of a drunk driver, MADD has solidified its position as one of the most influential nonprofits spreading the word of the dangers of impaired driving.

Drunk Driving Statistics

MADD reports that every 53 minutes someone is killed in an alcohol or substance abuse related accident, and every two minutes someone is injured under the same circumstances. Through outreach and education, MADD has made itself a formidable presence in American culture and with the beginning of football season the organization is expanding its affiliation with the National Football League (NFL) by enlisting the 2016 crop of NFL rookie players.

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 Posted on August 08, 2016 in Criminal Law

As the summer and political heat reaches its peak, perhaps evoking a history challenge may be a cooler diversion. If asked, what are the two most popular amendments of the United States Constitutional Bill of Rights, a gambling man (or woman) may answer, the First and Second Amendments. Of course, there are a number of others that are just as important to protecting the rights of Americans, especially those who have been accused of a crime.

Basic Civil Rights

As our forefathers provided futuristic insight as to the importance of each amendment, the First Amendment protects our fundamental rights of conscience allowing for the right of expression without public or governmental interference. While not unlimited, these rights represent the bedrock of American liberty.

Next on the popularity list and perhaps one of the most controversial amendments is the right “to bullets as well as ballots”. This amendment protects individual rights to bear arms to secure the path and pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

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