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
Safeway Drivers would like to encourage everyone to exercise sound
judgment when planning to consume alcohol. Please
don’t drink and drive, make a reservation if
you intend to drink. There is an abundance of information available
through organizations such as MADD,
and NHTSA.
Please drink responsibly.
