It Is Time For A Reminder

By Author: Vincent Law
Total Articles: 1
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After reading in the News and Observer about a tragic accident that claimed the life of one person while another was charged with driving while impaired, I decided that it was time for a reminder of the repercussions of getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol. Not only does it potentially ruin a person’s life by possibly facing jail time, paying heavy fines and having this offense on a permanent record, it devastates another family if they lose a member because of the negligence.
North Carolina takes driving while impaired very seriously and the punishment and penalties reflect the state’s disdain for this unnecessary act. Even for a first offense, the driver faces up to 24 hours in jail, a $200 fine, and license suspension of 60 days to one year. For those who have already faced the consequences of being found guilty of driving while impaired and did not learn a lesson, the penalties are much stiffer with more jail time; heavier fines; license suspension from one year to permanent revocation depending the number of offenses; and, even an interlock ignition device (IID) where offenders are required ...
... to blow into a breathalyzer type device that is mounted to the dashboard and controls whether an ignition will start.
From there, the punishment increases depending on the outcome of an accident resulting from driving while impaired. If someone is injured as a result of a driver getting behind the wheel and driving while impaired, not only are there more severe criminal charges, there are potentially civil charges from the victim or victim’s family who enlists the assistance of a North Carolina auto accident lawyer.
Driving while impaired is an unnecessary act that has the very real potential of destroying many lives. It is also an act that is easily preventable. If there is even the slightest question of whether a person should drive after drinking alcohol or even taking medication that indicates restraint from driving, err on the side of caution. The outcome is not worth it. There are many alternatives such as the use of taxi cabs or catching a ride with a friend or even staying put for awhile. The driver that caused the accident mentioned above destroyed one family when he made the decision to drive while impaired.
North Carolina personal injury attorneys help victims and families who suffer from accidents resulting in injuries and even wrongful death. Be smart. Do not, under any circumstances, drive while impaired. It is simply not worth the price you pay if something happens.