Driving drunk in Las Vegas can affect your life for many years to come. The penalties for these crimes are very high, in large part because this activity could be not only costly to you – it could injure or kill someone. Groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is just one of the groups advocating for strong penalties for DUI. That’s because DUI remains a nationwide problem:
- Every day 27 people die from DUI-related crashes.
- Drunk driving costs $132 billion a year in the U.S.
- In 2013, 1,149 children ages 14 and younger were killed in DUI-related driving crashes.
- 50 to 75% of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license.
Clearly, DUI remains a strong and consistent problem in Nevada and across the U.S. In a city like Las Vegas, where people come from all over the world to party, drunk driving remains a big problem.
We’ve assembled some of the most common facts about DUI in Las Vegas that you may not know. Here’s our top 10 for you to consider:
- By law, if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which measures the mixture of alcohol in your blood, is .08 or above, you can be charged with DUI. It doesn’t matter if you don’t “act” drunk. If your blood level reads high, you’ll be arrested.
- That’s an important point: If you’re driving drunk and are caught by the police, it isn’t a traffic stop; it’s a crime. You will be treated like a criminal and handcuffed.
- Prescription drugs or other legal or illegal drugs can also result in a DUI charge. That includes marijuana for recreational use, which was recently legalized in Nevada. While a Breathalyzer won’t show your drug use, a blood test could.
- If you are stopped by police for suspicion of DUI, and you refuse a breath or blood sample, the police can obtain a warrant and force you to undergo these tests.
- Blood or breath test? A blood test is typically more accurate than a breath test. What that means for your defense, is that a blood test is harder to challenge in court.
- There are multiple instances of Breathalyzer test results having problems where the results were overturned in court. Check out this FindLaw article that discusses the myriad ways you can challenge Breathalyzer results.
- If you’re under 21, Nevada has zero tolerance for alcohol consumption.
- Ignition interlock systems are computers installed in cars by the court system. These devices stop the car from starting if you have a BAC above a certain level. They are usually installed after someone is convicted of DUI.
- According to KNPR, DUI arrests declined last year in Las Vegas.
- If you are arrested for DUI, the prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before conviction.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Las Vegas, call Thunder Law immediately for a consultation. We can help.