Driving while under the influence (DUI) is a very serious offence. Many people enjoy drinking alcohol and forget that they should act more responsibly when they have to get back on the road. Drinking is certainly not illegal, even if it is to inebriation, but you need to plan ahead so that you do not attempt to drive back home. Here are some of the serious consequences of letting this happen.

·         Accidents

When you are drunk you judgment becomes impaired making it likely you will make mistakes on the road. Drifting into the wrong lane, falling asleep while the car is moving or even failure to remain observant of pedestrians walking on the side of the road can all lead to accidents. Not only could you damage other people’s property and your own, you may injure others, yourself and lead to a death.

·         DUI arrest

Assuming you are lucky enough not to harm anyone else on the road, you may however catch the attention of a police officer due to erratic driving or failure to properly signal. With DUI arrests there are multiple reasons a police officer can use to justify pulling you over and when you are drunk you are likely to give him plenty.

·         Punishment

Depending on the state you have been arrested in and the number of similar convictions you have had, the punishment may vary greatly. The punishments handed down in the event of a conviction can feature a mix of jail time, fines, community service, probation, counseling, suspended driver’s licenses and ignition interlocks. The severity of the punishments can be lessened if the accused has engaged the services of an experienced DUI lawyer to represent him or her. Knowing the system and how to play it is highly useful in quashing a conviction or at least limiting the damage. In addition, having to pay the high cost of such legal representation is another consequence. Keep in mind however that the more repeatedly you commit this offence, the more sever your punishments will become.

·         Reputation

A person’s reputation will often suffer if convicted of a DUI. It is considered one of the most irresponsible acts especially as it can lead to loss of life. Many people with high profiles often find that such convictions are well publicized by the media. Even for the very young, their reputation can be affected as it becomes part of their criminal record. When applying for jobs or other positions of responsibility, the vetting process may include looking into this record and spoil your chances.

·         Insurance

With a DUI conviction you can expect your car, health, and life insurance costs to rise. This is because you become a higher risk and therefore to compensate themselves against the likely sooner claims, the insurer will charge you more premiums in the interim.

As the consequences outlined indicate, there are many problems that can arise out of drunk driving. Not only will you suffer personally and financially, you also place others at risk. To help avoid such problems, make plans ahead of time for your travel if you think you may drink excessively on a given day or night.

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