Drunk driving is responsible for about 13,000 deaths in the US each year, though this number was higher at around 25,000 deaths 20 years ago. In Rhode Island, there were 2,131 arrests for drunk driving and 29 total deaths caused by drivers with a BAC of at least 0.01%. The penalties for drunk driving and vehicular homicide can include jail time, fines, license suspension, and in some cases of vehicular homicide resulting in death, life imprisonment. Various organizations work to prevent drunk driving and educate the public, such as MADD and SADD.
2. I. Drunk Driving is responsible for
about 13,000 deaths in the US every
year
II. 36 a day and one every forty minutes
III. 3 in 10 Americans will be involved in
alcohol-related crash at some time in
their life
IV. Costs our nation $24 billion annually
V. About twenty years ago 25,000
people were killed each year. Over
ten years this equaled more than five
times the number killed in the
Vietnam War.
3. I. Driving with a BAC of 0.08 or
greater is considered driving
drunk.
II. BAC: Blood Alcohol
Concentration
4. Alcohol firsts affects the frontal lobe, then attacks your
mid brain, finally affects the brainstem.
6. So we know 0.08 is the limit so if we are caught what happens?
Rhode Island has an implied consent law. That means that if you
refuse to submit to a chemical test you will be subject to a fine and
automatic license suspension.
First Offense-6 month license suspension, 10-60 hours
community service, $200-$500 fine
Second Offense- 1 year license suspension, 60-100 hours
community service, $600-$1,000 fine, possibly jail
Third Offense- 2-5 year license suspension, 100 hours
community service, $800-$1,000 fine, possibly jail
• DUI Resulting in Death- Jail sentence 5-15 years, fined
$5,000-$10,000, revoked license for 5 years, and at the
judge's discretion possible enrollment in an alcohol treatment
program
Look back Period: 5 years (Period of time that prior DUIs are
relevant for sentencing. Also known as a “washout” period.)
7. I. Vehicular homicide (manslaughter)- is a crime in which death
results from the negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Depending
on the exact circumstances of the accident, vehicular homicide can
be classified as either a misdemeanor or felony.
II. Some of the variables that come into play when determining the
degree of punishment for such a charge include:
I. The role of gross negligence, or blatant, willful disregard for the health,
safety and property of others
II. The related concept of recklessness
III. The role of alcohol impairment, if any, and whether or not the accident
occurred when the driver was over the legal blood alcohol limit (BAC) of
0.08 percent
IV. Speeding or otherwise failing to observe traffic laws
8. I. A common misconception about vehicular
homicide is that it is not as serious a charge as
murder. However, even without proof of intent,
some states see this crime as a capital offense
that warrants hefty jail time or even life
imprisonment.
II. Studies have shown that, while the identity of
the accused does not greatly affect the
verdict or sentence, the identity of the victim
can have an impact. Longer sentences have
been imposed upon people who hit and kill
children, females, and those with no criminal
record.
9. I. 2,131 arrested in Rhode Island for drunk driving / DUI
(Driving under the Influence)
II. 20 fatal accidents in Rhode Island where at least one driver
had a BAC of 0.08% or above
III. 22 people were killed in Rhode Island in accidents where at
least one driver had a BAC of 0.08% or above
IV. 7 people were killed in Rhode Island in accidents where at
least one driver had a BAC between 0.01% and 0.07%
V. 29 total deaths caused in Rhode Island where at least one
driver had a BAC of 0.01% or above
10. I. MADD- Mothers Against Drunk Driving
II. SADD- Students Against Drunk Driving
(JWU, Brown, RISDI, PC)
III. Rhode Island State Police- Task force on
substance abuse
IV. Local police departments, the state
department of transportation, and the
governors highway safety association.
11. I. Simply don’t drink & drive!!!!!
II. Designate someone who’s not going to drink
to drive
III. “Friends don’t let friends drink & drive”-
don’t let friends drive drug, not smart
IV. If you’re driving and you suspect someone is
driving drunk you can dial *77 from your cell
phone/Smartphone, goes straight to the
police.