Yes, impaired driving could cause life sentence. Not in the literal way of life in prison, but figuratively because of the fact that the memory haunts for life. Driving while intoxicated is illegal and very dangerous to all involved. Collisions with pedestrians, property damage and automobile collisions are three of the main dangers. An accident relating to being intoxicated is emotionally damaging for all involved and legal punishment is taken against the driver.

The statistics are shocking and sad at the same time. Every two minutes someone gets injured by a drunk driver and every half hour fatalities occur during those accidents. This is definitely shocking and sad because of the fact that driving drunk is completely preventable. It’s a reckless action that can take or impair the life of someone else.

The punishments for driving while impaired are very serious and if the driver is lucky enough to be alive he will definitely face those consequences. On the other hand, if a driver is lucky enough to get pulled over before they can do any damage, their sentence will be drastically lower.

Thousands of dollars in fines and legal costs are part of a big financial burden for offenders. They also face up to three years without a license and their car impounded, which is another fee. When and if the license is reinstated, precautions are put in place to prevent any more offenses. A breathalyzer lock is the most common and will freeze up the engine if the driver fails the breathalyzer test. As for insurance companies, they also raise rates for being in an accident and convicted of a DWI.

If the driver had an accident with minimal damage and no injuries jail time will most likely not be too long, if at all. Some first time offenders are ordered to go to AA or another alcohol rehabilitation facility that can assist them in their addiction and problem. Others are sentenced to community service. What about those accidents that involve a fatality? If the driver is convicted with vehicular homicide, things get more steep.

Jail time for a vehicular homicide conviction can range from 12-20 years. Even though the time behind bars isn’t too long, impaired driving can lead to a life sentence. Memories and guilt of the accident can last throughout your life. Guilt that comes from causing a fatality isn’t easy to deal with. If the fatality was a friend or family member also in the car, the grief and feeling of irresponsibility can feel much worse.

Death or permanent injury can be caused by this reckless behavior of driving while under the influence. Family members and friends of the victim are also effected. Especially if there was a fatality. Losing a friend or family member to a drunk driver is a terrible feeling, as is the resentment and anger they feel afterward.

Permanent injury is common in accidents with drunk drivers. The actual scars may fade, but the emotional scars will stay forever. Flashbacks of the night the victim was hurt or family member was killed is a thought that can haunt people for years to come. Traumatic experiences are always burned into our heads so strongly and so vividly.

I believe that if more people understood they would not be frowned upon if they had called a cab, more lives would be spared. Unfortunately, people still want to seem responsible and so drunk pupils get behind the wheel. The after effects of this really can lead to consequences that can last for as long as those memories are around.

About the author, DUI Lawyers

Author Bio: Do not ruin your criminal record hire DUI Lawyers or Impaired Driving Lawyers, drinking and driving is a crime.

Category: Legal
Keywords: impaired driving, record, demerit points, crime, fine