Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

The facts:

In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in alcohol related crashes; a decline of 3.7 percent from the 13,491 drunk driving related fatalities of 2006. On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes. Three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash in their lives Over 1.46 million drivers were arrested in 2006 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 139 licensed drivers in the United States. The legal limit for intoxication in Texas is .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) however drivers can be stopped and cited for driving while impaired regardless of BAC level. Texas also has a zero tolerance law. For anyone under 21, it is illegal to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol.

In 2006 there were 1,354 alcohol related fatalities in Texas where the driver had a BAC of .08 or greater; up from 1,320 in 2005. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

What happens if you get stopped:

If a law enforcement officer asks you to take a blood or breath test in order to measure your BAC and you refuse, you are subject to an automatic 180-day suspension of your driver’s license. Punishment for DWI varies depending on the number of times you’ve been stopped.

First offense :

• A fine up to $2,000
• 72 hours to 180 days in jail
• Drivers license suspension of 90 days to a year

Second offense:

• A fine up to $4,000
• 30 days to a year in jail
• Drivers license suspension of 180 days to two years

Third offense :

• A fine up to $10,000
• 2 to 10 years in a federal penitentiary
• Drivers license suspension of 180 days to two years

Designated Driver

Safeway Drivers would like to encourage everyone to exercise sound judgment when planning to consume alcohol. The decision to use a Designated Driver should not be based on economics; but even from a purely financial argument – if you believe you cannot afford a driver for a few hours, please refer to the cost of a DWI conviction. Please don’t drink and drive, if you intend to drink, make a reservation Reserving a Designated Driver through Safeway Drivers provides peace of mind for everyone. Further DWI statistics and safety data are available through organizations such as MADD, and NHTSA. Please drink responsibly.