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Is This The Most Shocking Anti-drunk Driving PSA Of All?

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Editorial Staff

anti-drunk driving PSAImagine you’re at a night club and you head into the restroom to use the facilities. When you step out to wash your hands, the mirror starts talking right to you. Would you think you had one too many or that someone slipped something into your drink? That’s probably the reaction bar hoppers had when they took a look in the mirror and saw a man decked out in a prison uniform staring back at them.

What must have seemed like a hallucination was actually an anti-drunk driving PSA (public service announcement). Kris Caudilla, an actual prison inmate, filmed a video called ‘Reflection from the Inside.’ It was shot at the RMC correctional facility in Florida, and the way the conversation casually starts would seem shocking to anyone, drunk or sober, who saw it.

After he asks how the person is doing, he starts talking about how he’s currently in prison serving time for a drunk driving crash. It was a head-on crash that killed a police officer and father of four, and Caudilla takes complete blame for his actions. He mentions how he made the choice to drink and drive, and now that he’s serving 15 years for DUI manslaughter (driving under the influence), he wants others to know they don’t have to make the same choice.

Take a look at the video below:

The way the video is filmed, it seems as though the conversation is happening live. Because of that, it really has an impact on the men who stood there and chatted with him. A few of them appear visibly shaken, and they assured Kris they had a designated driver or planned to take a cab home.

It’s the shock value that makes this anti-drunk driving PSA stand out, and because its not an actor or a hypothetical scenario, Caudilla has a chance to make a real impact on people. Odds are, bar patrons may be seeing a lot more ‘live from prison’ mirrors in the near future.

 

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What Happens To My Job When I Have A Drunk Driving Charge?

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Editorial Staff

how does a drunk driving charge affect my jobDrunk driving charge is a mistake that can happen to anyone. For most people, they’re out for the night and have one or two drinks, get behind the wheel, and probably think nothing of it until they see lights flashing in the rear view window or a check point up ahead.

Even one or two drinks can result in a drunk driving charge, and the repercussions can touch every area of your life. With a suspended driver’s license, how can you drive your kids to school, go to appointments, or even more stressful, get to work?

When it comes to your job, having a driving under the influence (DUI) charge on your record can have serious implications. Here are just a few ways a drunk driving charge could affect your job.

Your driver’s license will be suspended

Most states have a DUI penalty that requires a suspected drunk driver to have his or her driver’s license revoked for a period of time. Some states require that you lose your license for a year, while others only ask for six months. If your state has a provision where you can waive your driver’s license suspension in exchange for an ignition interlock or there is an exemption to allow you to drive to work, you’re one of the lucky few that can keep driving. Most people convicted of DUI won’t be able to drive at all, and if you have to drive for work, that can affect your ability to do your job.

You may be fired for your drunk driving charge

Depending on your job and the contract you signed to take the position, a DUI conviction could result in you losing your employment permanently. Some employers have a policy that allows for dismissal if you’re convicted of a crime, and DUI is a crime.

Your employer’s insurance won’t be able to cover you

If you drive a truck, a bus, or other company vehicle for work, you usually have to provide a driver’s abstract in order to get the job. That’s because a company’s insurance requires you to have a clean driving record in order to cover you for crashes, damage, or loss. If you have a DUI on your record, your company’s insurance may refuse to cover you, and with no coverage you can’t drive.

These are just a few ways a drunk driving charge can affect your job, but you won’t have to worry about any of them as long as you drive sober or ask a designated driver to get you home.

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What’s The Real Cost Of A DUI? Read This Before Your Next Night Out

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Editorial Staff

what's the real cost of a duiHow does a $30 bar tab end up costing you thousands of dollars? If you decide to drink and drive, you’ll find out that the cost of a DUI (driving under the influence) charge could put you thousands of dollars in debt after all of the court costs, legal fees, and fines.

It seems incredible that having a few drinks and then driving could end up costing that much, but there are a lot of different fees you’ll incur after you’re convicted of DUI. Here are a few different ways the cost of a DUI really hits you.

Bond fees

Depending on what state you’re arrested in, how many previous DUI arrests you have, and what the judge says when you first appear after your arrest, you may have to pay a bond to be released. That bond can cost you up to $2,000, and you’ll have to pay at least 10% before you are released.

Legal fees

If you want legal advice or representation, you’ll need to find an attorney to support you during your DUI court appearances or if you go to trail. If you plead guilty and it’s all wrapped up quickly, it might only cost you $1,000. If you go to trial, your legal fees could be in the thousands.

Court ordered fines

Most DUI charges include a court ordered fine. In California a first offender will pay up to $1,000. Arizona only has a $250 fine for a first offense, and Florida makes offenders pay not more than $1,000 for a first DUI.

Cost of an ignition interlock

Costs vary depending on your state so there are no hard and fast numbers for each and every drunk driver, but you can expect to pay an installation fee plus other fees for the duration of your ignition interlock program. Programs usually last 6 months to one year for first time offenders.

Reinstatement of your driver’s license

Just like ignition interlock fees, license reinstatement fees vary by state, but they could run you over $500.

When you add it all up, the cost of a DUI doesn’t really makes drinking and driving that appealing. The next time you’ve had a few drinks and you’re considering just risking it all and trying to drive home, you might want to consider how much it could run you if you were stopped for DUI. Just the thought of it could sober you up in a hurry.

 

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CES Unveils The Keurig For Booze

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Editorial Staff

PicoBrew-keurig-for-boozeWhenever a new product comes out that makes alcohol distribution simpler and more accessible, people who fight against drunk driving sit up and take notice. That’s exactly what’s happening right now at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) as they are previewing the newest alcohol dispensing method: the Keurig for booze.

Although you may never have heard of ot. there is more than one Keurig for booze previewing at CES this year. The Somabar and the Bartisian are both robotic bartenders that distribute shots of alcohol via pods. The pods hold both liquor and mix, and when you use the associated app you can set for strength and it mixes you a drink. For beer lovers there is Picobrew, a home brewing system that’s the size of a coffee machine but has the power to brew mini kegs of beer. It’s also connected to Wi-Fi, so you can download and use beer recipes.

All of these devices are designed to be convenient and simple to use, but will consuming alcohol via a Keurig for booze make you more likely to drink and drive? Because they aren’t actually on the market yet, there is no way to tell. Having an alcohol dispenser that makes it as easy to mix up a cocktail as a cup of coffee may make it more likely that people drink at home or serve mixed cocktails on the spur of the moment.

Another concern is that when you can adjust for strength without actually seeing what’s going into your drink, what seems like one innocent drink can actually have the alcohol content of a double. That’s fine if you’re planning on staying home, but the trouble starts if you quickly whip up and consume a bunch of drinks then head out to your car.

Whether you mix your drinks on your own or you plan on pre-ordering a Keurig for booze, there’s only one thing to keep in mind: if you drink, even one drink, don’t drive.

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Some People Think They Make Good Drunk Drivers: Here’s Why You Don’t

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Editorial Staff

there-are-no-good-drunk-driversDrunk drivers are everywhere. They’re on the road beside you when you’re driving home after work. They’re on the Internet broadcasting or Periscoping their drunken drives, and they could even be right beside you in the drivers seat of your car when you’re going out for a night on the town.

Yes, your friend might have told you they are just feeling buzzed, and could have also said they’re a great judge of their level of drunkenness. Maybe you’ve even heard someone say they know good drunk drivers that drive better when they’re drunk. Even if you’re only slightly skeptical of that statement, you’d do yourself a huge favor if you told them they were wrong. There are a lot of reasons why people don’t make good drunk drivers:

You’re judgement is one of the first things to go when you’re drunk

Even if you’ve only had two or three drinks, alcohol has the power to affect your judgement, and that means you could have a more cavalier attitude toward drunk driving than you would if you were stone cold sober.

False judgement can affect your speed

Do you know why people drive too fast or too slow when they’re drunk? Because that lack of judgement you experience can affect your ability to judge speed. You’ll either be driving less than the speed limit or so fast you’re a crash waiting to happen.

Your coordination has temporarily left the building

Why do drunk people have a hard time putting a key in a lock or walking after drinking? Alcohol affects your motor skills and a little thing called hand-eye coordination. Believe it or not, you really need those vital brain functions to drive too.

It’s a scientific fact that if you’ve had a few drinks in you, that alcohol disrupts your brain’s ability to make connections between your visual and muscle control. Even when you’re driving sober, if your vision is affected or you don’t have quick reaction time, you could end up in a crash. When you’ve been drinking, your driving suffers because what your eyes see can’t translate to movement fast enough.

No one drives better after they’ve been drinking, and there is no safe limit of alcohol someone can consume before driving. If you’re with a person who tells you they’re a great drunk driver, your best bet is to grab the keys, grab your phone, and find a sober driver as soon as possible. Your life, and their life, could depend on it.

 

 

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Driving During The Holidays? 3 Ways To Stay Safe

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Editorial Staff

driving-during-the-holidays-tipsIt’s the holidays again, and with the holidays comes parties, office get-togethers, and the possibility of a road trip on your own or with family. Although you can prepare with snacks, movies, and holiday music, there’s a lot of unforeseen things that can happen when you’re driving during the holidays, so here are a few tips on how you can prepare for what could happen when driving in the winter:

Prep your car for the weather

Maybe you’re just driving across town or you could be heading out on a 10-hour road trip; no matter where you decide to drive, you need to prepare for the weather before you go. Having good tires in the winter, carrying chains, and bringing along an emergency kit is a great idea for short or long road trips.

Stay off the side roads

Major routes are well tended to, with frequent snow plowing and sanding to prevent black ice. When the weather hits hard, side roads become a lower priority, and that’s when drivers who take these roads tend to get stuck in snow banks or lost for hours. Sticking to major routes will ensure you make it to your destination safely.

Be alert to what’s on the road

If you’ve ever been driving along and you see someone up ahead of you weaving in their lane, almost driving off the road, or slamming on the brakes frequently, you may have wondered if they could be a drunk driver. The best thing to do in this situation is to stay back from the vehicle and use hands free to call 911 and report the driver to the police. You might not know for sure if the person is drunk, but it’s better to be safe than sorry when someone is driving erratically on a busy road.

By making sure you prep for driving during the holidays stay alert to what’s happening out on the roads, you’ll enjoy a safe and happy holiday.

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Legalized Marijuana In Washington Hasn’t Upped DUI Rates

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Editorial Staff

no-increased-dui-washington-stateAll you have to do is drive down a street in Washington State and you can find legal cannabis facility. Since Washington passed Initiative 502 in November of 2012, they have been popping up everywhere. Since marijuana is so easily found and legally consumed, people have voiced concern about stoned drivers causing a jump in DUI rates. If you talk to Washington State police about it, they’ll tell you that’s just not true.

According to the Washington State Patrol, driving under the influence (DUI) rates have not increased since Initiative 502 was passed. John Schochet, Deputy City Attorney for Policy and Constituent Affairs from the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, was quoted in the Huffington Post as saying that legalization hasn’t increased DUI, but more people could be substituting cannabis for alcohol.

He’d also like to make it clear that cannabis legalization doesn’t mean that impaired driving was legalized in Washington State, and Initiative 502 actually made it easier to convict people who are driving stoned. That’s because it created a standard for determining cannabis impairment with regards to concentration of active THC in the blood stream, and having that regulation means prosecutor have a measuring stick they can use to charge drugged drivers. This change also helps law enforcement investigate someone they suspect of drugged driving, and they no longer have to prove a person was under the influence of drugs based on observations or field sobriety tests alone.

Just like with drinking and driving, people who decide to drive while under the influence of marijuana feel like they’re perfectly OK to get behind the wheel. Although Washington State hasn’t seen a huge jump in DUI since cannabis was legalized, to keep roads safe public perception needs to change. It might be legal in Washington to use cannabis, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive while under the influence of anything.

 

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Lock Up And Drive Sober With The Breathalyzer Bike Lock

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Editorial Staff

bike-lock-breathalyzer. Photo from Alcoho-lockDid you know you could be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) on any type of vehicle including all types of transportation from golf carts to bicycles? The police have stopped their fair share of drunk golf cart riders, and now a bike shop in Japan is trying to prevent drunk biking.

Koowho, a specialty bike shop in Japan, is trying to cut down on drunk biking by developing the Alcoho-Lock. It’s a bike lock that attaches to your bicycle and requires that you blow the legal limit before it will unlock. It gets even smarter—because it is connected to your smartphone, your Alcoho-lock will actually contact your friends or family for you, just in case someone wants to come and pick up your bike because you’re too drunk to ride it.

Being drunk and riding a bicycle might not sound like that big of a deal, but the implications of a crash could mean life or death for the bike rider. Imagine if you blew through a stop sign on your bike because you were too drunk to notice one was there. Or if you drove straight into traffic? Not only could you kill yourself, but you could cause a crash that will kill others too.

With a battery life of 40 breathalyzer tests before you have to recharge it, the Alcoho-lock has the potential to be a great two-in-one device to stop you from drunk driving on your bike and keep your bike safe when you’re not riding it. A lot of people are commuters and this may be what they need to stop them from making the decision to get on their bike and trying to ride home, and having to submit to a breath test to ride their bike may even make them think twice about getting behind the wheel of their car and driving home after drinking.

Image from Alcoho-lock.

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What’s The Difference Between DUI And DWI?

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Editorial Staff

drinking-and-drivingThere are a lot of different terms people use when it comes to describing someone who is drunk. From ‘sloshed’ to ‘juiced,’ there’s always a new slang term to refer to people who have been drinking. But if that same person got behind the wheel of the car while drunk, there will only be a few specific terms law enforcement and lawmakers will use when laying charges for drinking and driving.

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a widely used term that means a person is driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol, and so many different states use the term DUI that it’s practically become synonymous with drinking and driving. Other terms lawmakers use to describe driving under the influence include:

  • Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
  • Operating While Impaired (OWI)
  • Driving under the influence of drugs (DUID)
  • Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI)
  • Impaired Driving (Canada)

All of these terms have the same basic definition as DUI, with the differences in penalties specified in state-by-state laws.

Across the United States, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at which you can be charged with DUI, DWI, and OWI is .08, but that’s not to say that you can’t be charged with a drinking and driving related offense if you register under .08 on a breathalyzer. Take DWAI in New York State for example—the term means driving while ability impaired, and if you’re stopped for suspicion of DWAI you can be charged if your blood alcohol concentration is more than .05 but less than .07.

Some states also add aggravating factors to their drunk driving charges, and you can be charged with aggravated DUI if you caused bodily harm, killed someone, or had a blood alcohol over .16.

No matter which term your state uses to charge people with drinking and driving, the underlying message is the same—it’s illegal to drink and drive, so hand the keys over to someone else if you’ve been drinking.

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5 Tips To Stay Safe On The Roads This Summer

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Editorial Staff

stay-safe-summer-drivingDuring the summer the highways are busier than ever, and with more people on the roads, you’re going to have more risk of a crash. You can stay safe on the roads and make sure you’re not the reason for the crash by following these road safety tips:

Don’t drive while tired

Fatigue can impair your ability to concentrate, reduce your hand eye coordination, and can cause a crash if you fall asleep at wheel. Don’t drive during the hours you’d normally be sleeping, and if you’re tired, pull over and rest until you’re awake and ready to drive again.

Slow down

Speeding is the reason behind a lot of summer crashes, and when you’re putting the pedal to the metal it’s very easy to lose control of your vehicle. With so many people on the road this summer, make sure you slow down and obey the speed limits.

Avoid medication while driving

Some medications can cause you to be drowsy and will reduce your hand eye coordination. If the bottle of medicine says to avoid operating machinery after taking, don’t drive your vehicle until you’re sure you tolerate it.

Don’t drive while distracted

Texting while driving or using your cell phone while driving is dangerous, and when you’ve got your eyes on your phone and not on the road you can crash in an instant. Put your phone somewhere safe while driving and don’t pick it up again until you’ve safely pulled over.

Never drink and drive

The number one cause of crashes in the summer and at other times of the year is drinking and driving. When people drink and get behind the wheel, they’re putting themselves and everyone on the road with them in serious danger. Even if you’ve only had one or two drinks, hand the keys over to someone else.

Warm weather fun is right around the corner, and if you follow these road safety tips, you’ll stay safe on the roads this summer.

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