A Calgary Defence Lawyer's Reminder: DUI Laws Can Hurt
Driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs is a bad idea for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the extreme risk it creates for you, your passengers, and anyone else on Calgary roads. Though many feel they are capable of driving while intoxicated, this feeling is itself a symptom of intoxication: overestimating one's capabilities and underestimating risks are hallmarks of being drunk or being intoxicated by a number of other substances.
You aren't superhuman, and alcohol unquestionably slows your reaction time, reduces your motor skills, and makes you more dangerous on the road. That's plenty of reason in and of itself not to drink and drive, and Alberta's 2012 impaired driving laws provide another major incentive: if you're even accused of driving drunk on Calgary's streets with a suspected BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or higher, you can have your vehicle impounded and your licenses suspended immediately, before any trial, and before you are able to mount any defence on your own behalf.
What a DUI Conviction Can Mean for Your Future in Calgary
If you're convicted of a DUI, your license suspension can be extended and you may even have to use an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for years. These devices require you to blow into a breathalyzer device that attaches to your ignition, and prevents your car from starting if it reads an alcohol level at or above .05 (the cutoff BAC for administrative penalties in Alberta). These devices can malfunction and leave you stranded, and tampering with them can lead to a criminal charge all on its own, leaving you at the mercy of the Calgary courts and an uncertain technology potentially for years.
With the real physical risk to your life and the lives of those around you, the potential to be held liable for property damage and civil suits regarding personal injuries, and the legal trouble that an impaired driving charge can land you in, staying away from the driver's seat after you've had a drink should be a no brainer. Unfortunately, more than a thousand people are charged with DUIs in the Calgary area every year due to increased public awareness and reporting, DUI checkpoints or "checkstops" run by the Calgary Police, and other increased detection efforts.
What You Can Do About a Calgary DUI Charge
If you've been charged for impaired driving in the Calgary area, you have the right to contact a defence lawyer to assist you with your case. Many of those accused of DUIs attempt to deal with law enforcement and Crown prosecutors on their own; there's a reason the majority of those accused of criminal DUIs in Calgary end up losing their license for a year or more. An experienced defence lawyer can help you navigate the laws and the criminal justice landscape, giving you the best possible chance of putting your DUI charge behind you quickly and cleanly.
For a free consultation with Calgary DUI defence lawyer Susan Karpa, contact her office today.