DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st!

DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (Full Version)

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Marini -> DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 10:01:47 PM)
I just saw/heard this on my local news. DC has passed EMERGENCY legislation, creating some very tough new DUI laws, that will go into effect Wednesday, August 1, 2012. I am doing this to inform and warn, because many of you will want to visit our Nation's Capital one day, and you can't say Marini didn't warn you! [;)] Come here and party, see the sites, and enjoy yourself! But realize the blood alcohol limits are being lowered from .08 to .04 AND first time offenders will face up to a $1,000 FINE AND a 180 day jail sentence. For this to be the Nation's Capital of the United States, this is a big deal. CBS local news/ Tougher DUI laws go into effect in DC this week!

SternSkipper -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 10:30:13 PM)
quote: Come here and party, see the sites, and enjoy yourself! But realize the blood alcohol limits are being lowered from .08 to .04 AND first time offenders will face up to a $1,000 FINE AND a 180 day jail sentence. Really? Wow... what were they doing before I mean other than halving the BAL, which is somewhat remarkable, most states already have heavier maximum penalties than that. I am definitely curious as to what a DUI used to net a convicted driver. Are you familiar what the penalties being replaced were? WAIT... sorry ... didn't see the link ... $300 and 90 days??????????? Are you fucking kidding me? Talk about zero incentive to drive sober.

TheDomInTheHat -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 10:39:58 PM)
They have been pretty tough here in DC for a while. The DMV has been summarily revoking licenses for first offenders for 6 months since at least the beginning of the year. You can get probation in court and then your lawyer will tell you to not even bother to show up at the DMV hearing because they are not going to be swayed. The DMV is also revoking licenses for DC holders, for VA tickets. You get a ticket for 81mph on a 70mph VA highway, pay the fine to VA for a slightly unusual variant of "reckless driving" , and then DC considers it equivalent to their reckless driving law, and revokes your license. I pretty much won't drink anywhere in DC that requires me to drive. Especially since even if you blow under a .04, you will be arrested just for admitting you had a beer.

Marini -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 10:46:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheDomInTheHat They have been pretty tough here in DC for a while. The DMV has been summarily revoking licenses for first offenders for 6 months since at least the beginning of the year. You can get probation in court and then your lawyer will tell you to not even bother to show up at the DMV hearing because they are not going to be swayed. The DMV is also revoking licenses for DC holders, for VA tickets. You get a ticket for 81mph on a 70mph VA highway, pay the fine to VA for a slightly unusual variant of "reckless driving" , and then DC considers it equivalent to their reckless driving law, and revokes your license. I pretty much won't drink anywhere in DC that requires me to drive. Especially since even if you blow under a .04, you will be arrested just for admitting you had a beer. Damn, I live right across the bridge near Alexandria, VA and I didn't know all this! I started a thread about a year ago, about all the damn speed traps in D.C.. and the chef that had paid a sign holder, to warn people in the Chevy Chase area. Traffic laws in D.C. are damn ridiculous, I need to check the blood alcohol levels for 1 glass of wine! I visit my father who lives in D.C. every week, and he has the best selection of spirits. But then on the other hand, you can still have the 1 drink, as long as you wait an hour or so before getting behind the wheel! Key word= 1 drink only/eating food to absorb it =waiting at least 1-2 hours to get behind the wheel. BAC Charts I am going to get a good reliable home monitoring alcohol breathalizer. I am getting paranoid about having 1 damn glass of wine. Better to be safe, than ruined for life.

SternSkipper -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 11:08:46 PM)
quote: I pretty much won't drink anywhere in DC that requires me to drive. Especially since even if you blow under a .04, you will be arrested just for admitting you had a beer. I haven't driven a motor vehicle under the influence of anything in more than 20 years (okay, well a couple of times after smoking marijuana... but not even that much after the death of Jerry Garcia ) and it's not cause I was ever an alcoholic or had some spiritual awakening. It just occurred to me a bust wasn't worth losing your career and I felt uneasy with subjecting other people to my unique interpretation of 'responsibility' in those instances. But while I agree with you about the 04 BAL, the penalties I've been reading about existing prior to this new law are practically a legal happy hour. I realize the perception is different if you haven't ever lived up here ... But take a look at this... this is only an excerpt of what we have in place in Massachusetts - "Section 24. (1) (a) (1) Whoever, upon any way or in any place to which the public has a right of access, or upon any way or in any place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, operates a motor vehicle with a percentage, by weight, of alcohol in their blood of eight one-hundredths or greater, or while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or of marijuana, narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances, all as defined in section one of chapter ninety-four C, or the vapors of glue shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years, or both such fine and imprisonment. There shall be an assessment of $250 against a person who is convicted of, is placed on probation for, or is granted a continuance without a finding for or otherwise pleads guilty to or admits to a finding of sufficient facts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, marijuana, narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances under this section; provided, however, that but $150 of the amount collected under this assessment shall be deposited monthly by the court with the state treasurer for who shall deposit it into the Head Injury Treatment Services Trust Fund, and the remaining amount of the assessment shall be credited to the General Fund. The assessment shall not be subject to reduction or waiver by the court for any reason. " And THIS is just an excerpt. If you want to see the whole enchilada, it's at: http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section24 And they just keep on adding to this statute. And I've yet to see that it's affected more than a handful of people's attitudes on DUI. Myself among the lucky few. Good luck with the new statutes... sounds like anyone they pull over for any reason might fall into this category if they've been out to dinner.

Marini -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 11:22:49 PM)
quote: And they just keep on adding to this statute. And I've yet to see that it's affected more than a handful of people's attitudes on DUI. Myself among the lucky few. Good luck with the new statutes... sounds like anyone they pull over for any reason might fall into this category if they've been out to dinner. Ain't that the truth!!! Has it come to the point, that now we have to live in fear if we want to have a glass of wine with dinner? I think MADD has done a good job, but many are scared to ever say anything against them, or the zero tolerance police state we are living in. DUI process blog/ Charged with DUI while walking a bicycle!

littlewonder -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/30/2012 11:51:13 PM)
about fucking time! I still don't think it goes far enough though.

slavebo -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 6:40:47 AM)
anyone who has a commercial drivers license has been .04 for so long it is second nature. now DC must be talking to the DOT about ways to make money. however i do applaud the effort being made to curb DUI on the roadways.

calamitysandra -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 6:42:46 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marini Ain't that the truth!!! Has it come to the point, that now we have to live in fear if we want to have a glass of wine with dinner? Well, I prefer that to living in fear of having my children killed by a drunk driver.

subrob1967 -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 8:09:50 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marini quote: ORIGINAL: TheDomInTheHat They have been pretty tough here in DC for a while. The DMV has been summarily revoking licenses for first offenders for 6 months since at least the beginning of the year. You can get probation in court and then your lawyer will tell you to not even bother to show up at the DMV hearing because they are not going to be swayed. The DMV is also revoking licenses for DC holders, for VA tickets. You get a ticket for 81mph on a 70mph VA highway, pay the fine to VA for a slightly unusual variant of "reckless driving" , and then DC considers it equivalent to their reckless driving law, and revokes your license. I pretty much won't drink anywhere in DC that requires me to drive. Especially since even if you blow under a .04, you will be arrested just for admitting you had a beer. Damn, I live right across the bridge near Alexandria, VA and I didn't know all this! I started a thread about a year ago, about all the damn speed traps in D.C.. and the chef that had paid a sign holder, to warn people in the Chevy Chase area. Traffic laws in D.C. are damn ridiculous, I need to check the blood alcohol levels for 1 glass of wine! I visit my father who lives in D.C. every week, and he has the best selection of spirits. But then on the other hand, you can still have the 1 drink, as long as you wait an hour or so before getting behind the wheel! Key word= 1 drink only/eating food to absorb it =waiting at least 1-2 hours to get behind the wheel. BAC Charts I am going to get a good reliable home monitoring alcohol breathalizer. I am getting paranoid about having 1 damn glass of wine. Better to be safe, than ruined for life. Take a cab to visit Dad, that's all I can advise.

Marini -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 8:19:29 AM)
lol, cute answer rob. The thing is most of the time, I don't have anything to drink, and IF I have my 1 glass of wine with dinner, I am not leaving till a few hours later. My point is, our lives are forever changed, even when doing the smallest of things. I am far more worried about the drivers chatting on cell phones, texting, putting make up on, or just driving distracted these days.

subrob1967 -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 8:40:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Marini lol, cute answer rob. The thing is most of the time, I don't have anything to drink, and IF I have my 1 glass of wine with dinner, I am not leaving till a few hours later. My point is, our lives are forever changed, even when doing the smallest of things. I am far more worried about the drivers chatting on cell phones, texting, putting make up on, or just driving distracted these days. I agree with you, but that's the beauty of our Constitution, it's written to give our local governments the power to write the laws they feel necessary to govern their municipalities. If your local government is too oppressive, you have the choice to move to one with less. But I'd be willing to bet that not a single congressman will be affected by this law, unless they crash their car.

Hillwilliam -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 8:41:41 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: subrob1967 quote: ORIGINAL: Marini lol, cute answer rob. The thing is most of the time, I don't have anything to drink, and IF I have my 1 glass of wine with dinner, I am not leaving till a few hours later. My point is, our lives are forever changed, even when doing the smallest of things. I am far more worried about the drivers chatting on cell phones, texting, putting make up on, or just driving distracted these days. I agree with you, but that's the beauty of our Constitution, it's written to give our local governments the power to write the laws they feel necessary to govern their municipalities. If your local government is too oppressive, you have the choice to move to one with less. But I'd be willing to bet that not a single congressman will be affected by this law, unless they crash their car. Do you think they'll be affected even if the DO crash their car? I don't.

Marini -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 8:47:08 AM)
quote: Well, I prefer that to living in fear of having my children killed by a drunk driver. I agree calamitysandra! I also don't want my children killed by: someone talking on a cell phone while driving, someone watching a video on You-tube while driving, someone texting while driving, someone smoking while driving, someone eating while driving, someone falling asleep while driving, or someone that had a bit too much cough medicine and is driving, someone arguing with another passenger in the car while driving, someone filled with road rage that is willing to cause a fatal accident while driving, someone speeding 30 miles above the speed limit while driving! The days of only worrying about drunk drivers have passed us. Many don't realize that there has been an increase in NON-alcohol DUI offences. Driving under the influence of PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION offenses is certainly on the rise. I was fascinated by what I discovered. Don't drive under the influence of Benadryl or Sudafed! I am not kidding! National Safety Commision/Danger of driving on Prescription and OTC meds Prescription Drugs and DUI's rising in Arizona Prescription Drug DUI's increasing in CA New York Times/ Texting more dangerous than driving drunk Distracted Driving blogspot I can go on and on. I am glad we have cracked down on drunk driving and driving under the influence, that is a good thing. I am saying, if we are going to nail someone for having a glass of wine over dinner, than nail the person on the cell phone, the person texting, the person that was distracted, the person that was smoking, the person who was impaired due to prescription drugs, OTC drugs, bad drug reaction, because they were falling asleep behind the wheel, looking out the window, not paying attention, and everything else. I am getting ready to jet around town, and I am far more worried about idiots that are chatting on cell phones/distracted while driving/road rage loonies with no patience, that are out driving up and down the roads. Take care

calamitysandra -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 9:02:26 AM)
Yes, those other things need to be tackled, too. But that does not negate that I feel nobody should drive after drinking. By the way, using your cell phone while driving is prohibited in Germany.

Musicmystery -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 9:02:43 AM)
quote: I agree with you, but that's the beauty of our Constitution, it's written to give our local governments the power to write the laws they feel necessary to govern their municipalities. If your local government is too oppressive, you have the choice to move to one with less. This beautifully describes how gun control should work. Or did, before the NRA interfered, telling locals how they should live.

Real0ne -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 10:32:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery quote: I agree with you, but that's the beauty of our Constitution, it's written to give our local governments the power to write the laws they feel necessary to govern their municipalities. If your local government is too oppressive, you have the choice to move to one with less. This beautifully describes how gun control should work. Or did, before the NRA interfered, telling locals how they should live. yup there you go keep right on burning that constitution! [image]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o296/nine_one_one/stuff/constitution_burning-1.jpg[/image] [image]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o296/nine_one_one/stuff/meetthetroughers-2008-4.jpg[/image] Oh and where do you plan on going where some shit house group with gun wont claim to be a democracy?

Real0ne -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 10:36:33 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: slavebo anyone who has a commercial drivers license has been .04 for so long it is second nature. now DC must be talking to the DOT about ways to make money. however i do applaud the effort being made to curb DUI on the roadways. bought n fuckin sold!

papassion -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 10:36:41 AM)
Or DID, before the NRA interfered? You thought locals had the right to over rule the 2nd amendment? We have had a couple of people killed by drivers returning home from a methadone clinic. People are given methadone and are allowed to drive afterwards? I assume methadone "alters" the mind as in one case, the driver was going like 90 mph down a country road and plowed thru a lady's car. The lady's family sued the clinic, but I don't think they won. At least not yet. In our town, you must bring along a driver even for an eye exam because of the eye drops. Or any dental or medical procedure if you chose to "sleep" thru the procedure. With death and severe crippling as a very possible event, there should be zero tolorence for DUI.

subrob1967 -> RE: DC passes EMERGENCY legislation/tough new DUI laws start Aug. 1st! (7/31/2012 10:41:00 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam Do you think they'll be affected even if the DO crash their car? I don't. Probably not, but when they get arrested there's usually a news story and public outrage.

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