DUI stands for driving under the influence. Some states use the term DWI, driving while intoxicated, instead of DUI. Their meanings are identical: they refer to a person driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Driving under the influence is a very serious offense with severe consequences. In 1938, the National Safety Council Committee on Tests for Intoxication described a correlation between blood alcohol and the degree to which the subject would be physiologically affected. Establishing three "zones of influence,"" the study considered a blood alcohol content of .05 percent to divide those not "under the influence"" and those "to be possibly under the influence," and .15 percent to be the point where one may be presumed to be under the influence of alcohol. In 1941, these findings were incorporated into New York Law (Fiandach, 2004). Today the guideline for testing a person's alcohol level remains the same, but the percentage has lowered. In many states the penalties for drunk driving are so severe that it may take a person several years to complete all the programs, and pay all the fines that are required when you get a DUI. .
Penalties and Fines.
The suspension or revocation of a DUI arrestee's license is usually separate from the criminal investigation. First time offenders may face fines, a limited amount of jail time, and several years of probation. Fines and jail stays generally increase for second time offenses. In some states (California is one example), a third offense may send a DUI convict to prison while a fourth offense becomes an automatic felony. Offenders are commonly ordered to pay three types of fines: an offense fine, a penalty assessment, and restitution. .
· Misdemeanor offense fines range from $390 to $1,000; felony offense fines from $390 to $5000. .
· Penalty Assessments are 170% of the offense fine, that is, $17 extra for each $10 of offense fine imposed .
