Rules 9

Rules 9: Alcohol and Other Drugs

 

Rules9: 20 Questions

What does alcohol do to your driving skills and judgement
		It helps driving skills but harms your judgement.
answer		It harms both driving skills and judgement.
		It has no effect on either driving skills or judgement.
		It has no effect on judgement but it harms driving skills.
What kinds of drugs, other than alcohol, can affect your driving ability
		An allergy medicine.
		Marijuana.
		A cold remedy.
answer		All of these choices.
What effect might alcohol and another drug have when combined in your blood
answer		Increase the effects of both.
		Have no effect on driving ability.
		Reduce the effects of the drug or medicine.
		Reduce the effects of the alcohol.
Blood alcohol content (BAC) depends on each of the following except
		Your body weight.
		How much you drink.
		How much time passes between drinks.
answer		How physically fit you are.
What happens to your driver's license if you refuse to take a chemical test (breath or blood)
		There is no evidence to find you guilty of drunk driving.
		You cannot be arrested for drunk driving.
answer		Your driver's license will be taken away.
		None of these choices.
What are the consequences that can result from driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs
		Possible imprisonment.
		A mandatory fine.
		Driver license revocation.
answer		All of these choices.
What is the only effective way to reduce your blood alcohol content (BAC)
		Drinking coffee.
		Exercising.
answer		Allow your body time to get rid of alcohol.
		Taking a cold shower.
Drinking alcohol and driving is
		A minor traffic safety problem.
answer		A serious traffic safety problem.
		Safe if you only have a few drinks.
		Only dangerous to the driver who drinks.
A driver who is taking a non-prescription drug should
answer		Read the labels on the drug before driving.
		Drink alcohol instead.
		Continue to drive.
		Drive only during daylight hours.
Which of the following does alcohol affect
		Recovery from headlight glare.
		Reaction time.
		Judgement of distances.
answer		All of these choices.
Drinking coffee after drinking alcohol
		Decreases blood alcohol content.
		Cancels the effect of the alcohol.
answer		Has no effect on blood alcohol content.
		Increases blood alcohol content.
On average, the human body can dispose of the alcohol in 12 ounces of beer in about
answer		One hour.
		One day.
		Five minutes.
		Five hours.
A chemical test is used to measure
		Reaction time.
answer		Blood alcohol content.
		Vision.
		Driving ability.
Which of the following influence the effects of alcohol
		The amount of food in the stomach.
		The body weight of an individual.
		How much time passes between drinks.
answer		All three choices.
In this state, what BAC (blood alcohol content) is evidence of intoxication
		0.05%
		0.03%
		0.10%
answer		0.08%
Which of the following does not happen after drinking
		Your reflexes and reaction time slow down.
		Your judgement of speed and distance is distorted.
		You are less alert.
answer		You calm down so you can concentrate.
What effect does drinking alcohol and taking a prescription drug or over the counter medicine have
		The medicine reduces the effect of the alcohol.
		The alcohol will help the medicine cure the cold.
answer		The combination could multiply the effects of the alcohol.
		No effect, they are different substances.
If you drink alcohol socially, what helps insure safe driving
		Drink coffee before driving.
answer		Ride home with a friend who has not been drinking.
		Take a cold shower before driving.
		Stop drinking one-half hour before driving.
Which of the following is true - People driving under the influence of alcohol are
		Not a problem in New York State.
answer		Every driver's problem whether they drink or not.
		A police enforcement problem only.
		Only a problem to those who drink.
Which of the following statements is true about BAC (blood alcohol content)
answer		The “breathalyzer” is a test of a person's BAC.
		A chemical test for BAC is needed for an alcohol conviction.
		BAC levels are reduced by a person's physical fitness.
		After drinking, coffee or a cold shower will lower your BAC.

You have probably heard the facts before - driving while impaired or intoxicated is a serious traffic safety problem in the United States. In New York State, more than 20 percent of all highway deaths involve the use of alcohol or other drugs. But the facts and statistics do not tell the whole story. Behind the numbers are thousands of lives cut short, permanent or disabling injuries, and families devastated because someone drove while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

When you drink alcohol or take other drugs, safe driving is not possible.  Not every impaired or intoxicated driver causes a traffic crash, but each one is dangerous, putting the lives of himself or herself and those sharing the road at risk.

Young persons, who have less experience with both alcohol and driving, are at most at risk. Drivers less than 21 are approximately 5 percent of the driving population, but 11 percent of the drivers involved in alcohol or drug-related fatalities. This is one reason the driver license revocation penalties are more severe for young drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Because driving "under the influence" is so dangerous, the penalties for alcohol or drug-related violations are tough and enforcement is important. The chance of apprehension and conviction are high and New York State law does not allow you to plea bargain to an offense related to alcohol or drugs.

WHAT ALCOHOL DOES

Alcohol reduces reaction time, reduces your ability to see clearly, changes your judgment of speed and distances, often makes you less inhibited and makes you more prone to take chances. The important skills you need to drive safely are made weaker.

Because your vision is normally restricted at night, it is especially dangerous to drink and drive after dark. Alcohol also reduces your ability to recover from the glare of headlights. When another vehicle moves toward you, you can be blinded by its headlights for a long period of time.

You do not have to look or feel intoxicated for these things to occur. The symptoms of alcohol consumption can begin long before you become intoxicated or even legally impaired and begin with the first drink.

As alcohol physically limits your ability to drive, it also makes you less aware of what is happening to your safe driving abilities. It becomes difficult for you to judge your condition. You can gain confidence about driving, when you should not be driving at all.

During each mile you drive, you make hundreds of decisions. Your decisions turn into actions that keep your vehicle controlled and ensure you avoid crashes. Alcohol makes it difficult to make correct decisions and to take the safest actions.

For example: You have just stopped at a STOP sign. You see another vehicle approaching the intersection. You must quickly make a decision whether it is safe to go through the intersection. Under the influence of alcohol, you are more likely to make a wrong decision and "take a chance.”  Your slower reaction time, and the bad decision, could cause a crash.

OTHER DRUGS

Drugs, which include many prescription and over-the-counter medications, can affect your ability to drive. They can have effects similar to alcohol or even worse. If you take medication, even a remedy for colds or allergies that is not prescribed, check the label for warnings about its effects. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist about driving while on the medication.

Never drink alcohol while you are take other drugs. It could be dangerous, often enhancing the effects of the alcohol and the other drug. For example, if you take one drink when you are also using a cold remedy could affect you as much as several drinks.

It can be a criminal offense to drive while impaired by the effect of drugs or alcohol and drugs, illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, LSD, heroin and opium and by some prescription drugs like tranquilizers. Drugs can affect your reflexes, judgment, vision and alertness in ways similar to alcohol and they may have other dangerous effects.

A combination of alcohol and other drugs severely reduces your ability to drive and can cause serious health problems, which can include death.

ALCOHOL, OTHER DRUGS AND THE LAW

In New York State, you can be arrested for any of these offenses: aggravated driving while intoxicated (Agg-DWI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more (.08 BAC), driving while ability impaired by a drug (DWAI-drug), driving while ability impaired by alcohol (DWAI), or driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs.

Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the percentage of alcohol in your blood and is normally determined by a chemical test of breath, blood, urine or saliva. A BAC of more than .05 percent is legal evidence that you are impaired, a BAC of .08 percent or higher is evidence of intoxication, and a BAC of .18 percent or more is evidence of aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Many people think chemical test evidence is required to prove you were intoxicated or impaired. However, the testimony of a police officer about the way you drive, your appearance and behavior when arrested can provide enough evidence to convict you, even without a chemical test.

If you are found guilty of any alcohol or drug-related violation, the court must revoke or suspend your driver license when you are sentenced. Even if the court allows you to continue driving for 20 days, your driver license will be taken immediately.

The BAC standards and penalties for commercial drivers are even tougher than those indicated in this chapter. For complete information, see Section 1 of the Commercial Driver's Manual (CDL-10).

YOUR BAC

Your blood alcohol content (BAC) depends on:

• How much alcohol you drink.
• How much time passes between drinks.
• Your weight.

Your BAC does not depend on the type of beverage you drink, how fit you are or how you can "hold your liquor."

Different types of drinks do not affect you differently. It is the amount of alcohol you consume, not whether it is in beer, wine or liquor that raises your BAC and reduces your driving ability. These drinks contain about the same amount of alcohol - 1½ ounces of liquor, 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer and 12 ounces of wine cooler. None is "safer to drink" than the others.

For a 150-pound male , each one of these drinks contains enough alcohol to increase his BAC by about .02 percent. On average, it takes the body approximately one hour to remove that much alcohol. Studies indicate that a woman will take longer to process and remove alcohol from the blood. This can cause a higher BAC over a longer period of time.

Compared to the 150-pound male described above, your body weight can make some difference in the BAC and the effects of alcohol. No one has immunity to the effects of alcohol. It is a simple fact: the more you drink in a given period of time, the higher your BAC will be and the less safe you will drive.

It takes only a few drinks to increase your BAC to levels at which it is illegal to drive. And remember, the effects of alcohol on your ability to drive begin at even lower BAC levels after just one drink.

Eating before or while you drink helps slow the absorption of alcohol somewhat, but it can not prevent intoxication or impairment if you have too much to drink.

The only method to effectively reduce your BAC is to not drink over a period of time. Coffee, exercise and cold showers cannot reduce your BAC and the effects of alcohol. They can help you remain awake, but it can not change your BAC or make you sober.

CHEMICAL TESTS

Chemical tests use blood, breath, urine or saliva to measure the BAC of a person. If you are arrested for an alcohol or drug-related violation, the police officer will likely request that you submit to a chemical test. Under New York's "Implied Consent" law, when you drive a car in this state you are considered to have already given your consent to take this type of test.

Chemical test refusal is a separate issue from whether you were guilty of an alcohol or drug-related violation. If you refuse to take the test after being arrested, your driver license will be suspended when you are arraigned in court on the alcohol or other drug-related charge. In addition, the fact that you refused a chemical test can be brought up in court when you are tried on the alcohol or drug-related charge. If a DMV hearing later confirms you refused the test, your driver license will be revoked even if you are found not guilty of the alcohol or other drug-related violation. For information about driver license revocations and civil penalties for chemical test refusals, see Alcohol and Drug Driving Violations.

PENALTIES FOR ALCOHOL / DRUG RELATED VIOLATIONS

AGGRAVATED DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED
AGG-DWI (0.18 and higher Blood Alcohol Content [BAC])

CONVICTION	FINE ONLY *	JAIL SENTENCE	REQUIRED LICENSE ACTION **
1st Offense (Misdemeanor)	Minimum $1,000 Maximum $2,500	Up to 1 year	Minimum 1-Year Revocation
2nd Offense (Class E Felony) Within 10 Years	Minimum $1,000 Maximum $5,000	Up to 4 years; minimum 5 days jail or 30 days of community service	Minimum 18-Month Revocation

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OR
DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED BY A DRUG
DWI (.08 and higher Blood Alcohol Content [BAC]) or DWAI-Drug

CONVICTION	FINE ONLY  *	JAIL SENTENCE	REQUIRED LICENSE ACTION **
1st Offense (Misdemeanor)	Minimum $500 Maximum $1,000	Up to 1 year	Minimum 6-Month Revocation
2nd Offense (Class E Felony) Within 10 Years	Minimum $1,000 Maximum $5,000	Up to 4 years; minimum 5 days jail or 30 days of community service	Minimum 1-Year Revocation

DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED BY COMBINED ALCOHOL & DRUGS
DWAI-Combination

CONVICTION	FINE ONLY  *	JAIL SENTENCE	REQUIRED LICENSE ACTION **
1st Offense (Misdemeanor)	Minimum $500 Maximum $1,000	Up to 1 year	Minimum 6-Month Revocation
2nd Offense (Class E Felony) Within 10 Years	Minimum $1,000 Maximum $5,000	Up to 4 years	Minimum 1-Year Revocation

DRIVING WHILE ABILITY IMPAIRED
DWAI (more than .05 up to .07 Blood Alcohol Content [BAC])

CONVICTION	FINE ONLY  *	JAIL SENTENCE	REQUIRED LICENSE ACTION **
1st Offense (Traffic Infraction)	Minimum $300 Maximum $500	Up to 15 days	90-day Suspension
2nd Offense Within 5 years (Traffic Infraction)	Minimum $500 Maximum $750	Up to 30 days	Minimum 6-Month Revocation

NOTE: Higher fines, longer jail sentences, and increased license penalties (including lifetime revocation) may result from a third or subsequent conviction within 10 years.

* Conviction fine only, does not include mandatory surcharge or crime victims assistance fee.

** The Department of Motor Vehicles determines when your license can be returned. Its return or reinstatement based on state law or regulation, is not automatic. You must reapply for your license and may have to pass a test.

THE CONSEQUENCES

The table "Penalties for Alcohol/Drug Related Violations" describes fines, surcharges, license penalties and possible imprisonment if you are convicted of an alcohol or drug-related violation. Impaired or intoxicated driving can also have other serious results.

Repeat Offenders

Drivers with repeat dangerous driving convictions in New York State face one of the toughest licensing policies in the nation. These regulations call for:

• Lifetime Record Review by DMV: DMV will review the lifetime record of all drivers who apply to have a license reinstated after a revocation.
• Truly Permanent License Revocation for Persistently Drunk & Dangerous Drivers: After conducting a lifetime record review, DMV will deny any application for reinstatement of a license after revocation if the applicant has:

• Five or more alcohol or drug related driving convictions in his or her lifetime, or

• Three or more alcohol or drug related driving convictions in the last 25 years plus at least one other serious driving offense during that period. A serious driving offense includes: a fatal crash, a driving-related penal law conviction, an accumulation of 20 or more points assessed for driving violations within the last 25 years or having two or more driving convictions each worth five points or higher.

• Delayed Re-Licensing, Driving Restrictions, & Interlocks for Other Drivers with Repeated Alcohol- or Drug-Related Driving Convictions: For those drivers seeking reinstatement of a license after revocation who have three or four alcohol- or drug-related convictions but no serious driving offense in the last 25 years, DMV will:

• Deny their applications for five years beyond their statutory revocation period if the applicant's license was revoked for an alcohol- or drug-related offense; or two additional years if the applicant's license was revoked for a reason other than an alcohol or drug related offense;

• Restore the applicant's license after that additional period as a "restricted" license limiting the applicant's driving to, for example, travel to and from work or medical visits; and

• For those drivers whose revocations stem from an alcohol-related offense, require an interlock on the vehicle driven by the applicant for five years.

• End the Reduction of Mandatory Suspension or Revocation Periods:  Previously, repeat drunk drivers whose licenses have been revoked or suspended could get their full driving privileges back in as little as seven weeks by completing DMV's Impaired Driver Program. DMV's new regulations will ensure that those drivers cannot obtain their driving privileges until their full term of suspension or revocation has ended.

Zero Tolerance for Drivers Under 21

The legal purchase and possession age for beverages containing alcohol in New York State is 21. Under the state's "zero tolerance" law, it is a violation for a person under 21 to drive with any BAC that can be measured (.02 to .07). After a finding of violation is determined at a DMV hearing, the driver license will be suspended for six months. The driver then must pay a $100 suspension termination fee and a $125 civil penalty to be re-licensed. For a second Zero Tolerance violation, the driver license will be revoked for at least one year or until the driver reaches 21, whichever is longer.

Illegal Purchase Of  Beverages Containing Alcohol

When you use a driver license or Non-Driver ID card as proof of age to illegally purchase beverages that contain alcohol, state law requires the suspension of your driver license or privilege to apply for a license.

Open Container Law

It is a traffic infraction for a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle on a public highway, street or road to drink a beverage containing alcohol or to have a beverage containing alcohol with the intent to drink it. The penalty for a first conviction is a fine up to $150, a mandatory surcharge, a crime victim assistance fee, possible imprisonment of 15 days and a possible two points assessed against the driver license record. Additional offenses within 18 months bring higher penalties. The law exempts passengers in vehicles like stretch limousines and other vehicles that display a commerce certificate or permit issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation or the NYS Department of Transportation.

The Ignition Interlock Program and Leandra's Law

Courts must order all persons convicted of driving while intoxicated or aggravated driving while intoxicated to install and maintain an ignition interlock on any vehicle owned or operated by such driver for at least 12 months. (This device, purchased and installed at the expense of the motorist, is connected to a motor vehicle ignition system and measures the alcohol content of the breath of the driver.  The vehicle cannot be started until the driver provides an acceptable sample breath.) The 12 month requirement may be waived by the court if the defendant demonstrates that the interlock device was installed for at least six months, unless the court orders the interlock device to be installed for a longer period of time. The judge also must order an alcohol assessment for the repeat offender. If the assessment indicates alcohol treatment is necessary, the judge may be required to order the completion of treatment as a condition of probation.

Drivers who commit these alcohol-related offenses with a child less than 16 years old in the vehicle may be charged with a class E felony, punishable up to four years in prison. (This is known as Leandra’s Law.)

The law also makes it a felony to drive drunk with a conditional license, which is a license that may be issued by the DMV when someone is convicted of an alcohol-related offense. Such a license may be used only for driving to and from essential destinations such as school, work and medical appointments.  The conditional driver license will be revoked if the motorist does not comply with the court terms or for conviction for any traffic offense except parking, stopping or standing.

A FEW IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• If you kill or cause an injury to another person because of an alcohol or other drug-related violation, you can be convicted of criminally negligent homicide, vehicular manslaughter or assault.  These carry a fine of thousands of dollars and a maximum jail term of 15 years.
• If you drive while your license is suspended or revoked, you face a mandatory fine of $200 to $1000, and a mandatory jail term or probation. If impaired or intoxicated when you are arrested, the maximum mandatory fine is $5,000 and the vehicle can be seized.
• Liability insurance may not cover the cost of injuries and damage from a traffic crash. You could be sued for thousands of dollars and you would find it difficult and expensive to buy liability insurance for several years.
• Besides fines and surcharges, you could also face costly legal fees.
• You could have a criminal record, which makes it harder to get a job or move forward in your job.

HOW TO AVOID TROUBLE

You are not likely to worry about the results of your actions while you are impaired or intoxicated. The time to consider them, and how to prevent them, is before you become impaired or intoxicated.

• If you go to events with the same group of friends, rotate drivers. Each friend takes a turn being the "designated driver" who does not drink any alcohol.
• Arrange to remain overnight or ride home with a friend who does not drink. 
• Before you drink, give your car keys to a friend who does not drink and who will not let you drive after you drink.
• Call a cab or use public transportation.
• Drink slowly. Alternate between drinks with alcohol and drinks without any alcohol.
• Do not make alcohol the focus of your event.
   
• If you have had too much alcohol, stop drinking several hours before you intend to leave so your body can begin to lower your BAC.

QUESTIONS

Before you move on to Chapter 10, make sure you can answer these questions:

• How does drunk driving rank as a highway safety problem?
• What are the effects of alcohol on the skills you need to drive?
• Which of these drugs could affect your ability to drive: marijuana, a cold remedy, a tranquilizer?
• If you take a non-prescription drug, what must you do before you drive?
• What is a likely effect when you take another drug while you drink beverages containing alcohol?
• On what three conditions does your blood alcohol content (BAC) depend?
• Which of these contains more alcohol than the other three: 1½ ounces (30 ml) of 80 proof liquor, five ounces (120 ml) wine, 12 ounces (360 ml) of beer, 12 ounces (360 ml) of wine-cooler?
• On average, how long does it take your body to remove the alcohol contained in 12 ounces of beer?
• What is the only effective method to reduce your BAC?
• What happens to your driver license if you refuse a chemical test?
• Other than fines, action against your driver license and a possible jail term, what are some of the results when you drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs?