Ending DUI Research Paper

Ending DUI’s and Deaths The rate of young adults driving under the influence of alcohol throughout the United States is costing people thousands of dollars and some victims even their life. Drinking and driving never truly became illegal until 1910 in New York, ten years later, prohibition started ending the sale, consumption and everything that was alcohol related (Staff). Since then, each state has made laws against drinking and driving and even open containers. In 2010 officers nationwide arrested 1.4 million people for drinking and driving, while 20% of them were repeat offenders (Staff). People climb behind the wheel thinking they are invincible, only to face consequences that could haunt them for the rest of their life. There are multiple …show more content…
It is very expensive to pay for a drunk driving ticket, but driving the cost even more could scare people away from even attempting to do it. On average, the cost of a DUI, OWI, DWI, will be anywhere around $10,000 dollars (McCurely). This is mainly for the first time offenders who were put on probation, and eventually have the charges dropped so the fines are not through the roof. Most people first time offenders in the state of Iowa are given what is called a deferred judgment, which is simply the judge finding the defendant not guilty but places the individual on a long period of probation with a series of rules that the person has to follow. I believe this is used too often and gives people a sense that they are still about to get away with drinking and driving. They still have fines to deal with, but they would be much greater, plus it would be on their record for at least 12 years (Drivers). What most people do not put into thought is the cost of Attorney’s, Court fees, Substance Abuse Classes, DMV fines, towing, and bail (Pelarenos). These all rack up hundreds and eventually thousands of more dollars on top of the fines that the individual is already facing. Most people who obtain a drunk driving charge, get their license suspended which makes it hard to hold a job and they never think about the lost income they will have as a consequence of driving intoxicated. This where I believe the …show more content…
The average breathalyzer can range anywhere from $60-$200, strictly depending on how accurate you want your results to be (Ed). This is the smartest and easiest way to end drunk driving since it’s a major place for people to become intoxicated. Furthermore, bars should be required to get the top of the line devices so that they are almost spot on with the BAC levels. Although, the Dram Shop Laws can come back to hurt the individual, bar, or restaurant establishment if their customer gets in an accident on the drive from their property. Dram Shop Laws are not federally mandated, they are adopted by a few states that can legally hold the establishment that the patron was drinking at accountable, if the patron gets in an accident while driving with alcohol in their system (Walton). For most bars, this could easily put them out of business, especially since the law can make the establishment pay up to $250,000 towards the patron that was too intoxicated but the bartender kept serving them. If the bartenders were required to give people a breathalyzer test before they leave their establishment then this could easily save the risk of that individual getting in an accident and possibly killing themselves or others. Personally, this is the best way to prevent a lot, not all but a lot of