Driving while under the influence of alcohol has become a very real and dangerous problem in the United States. In California, officials and police departments across the state are making efforts to reduce drunk driving such as increasing patrols, setting up checkpoints and increasing public awareness campaigns. Enacting stricter laws could make DUI defense more difficult. There is also a possibility that California may one day follow the lead of a neighboring state and eventually lower the allowable blood alcohol content level.
The state in question recently enacted the strictest DUI law in the nation. The new law, taking effect in 2019, lowers the legal blood alcohol content for drivers to .05. Although the state involved had the fewest number of alcohol related traffic fatalities out of any state, authorities say driving while intoxicated continues to be a dangerous problem.
According to the Utah Department of Safety, recent data shows that drivers continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated, despite decades of public campaigns to discourage drinking and driving. Records say that over 54,000 people have been arrested for intoxicated driving over the last five years in the state. Although Utah’s new law has met opposition from the alcohol industry, advocates say they hope it prompts other states to take similar actions.
Being arrested and charged with a DUI can undoubtedly be a stressful and humiliating thing to experience. However, those in California who have been charged with DUI reserve the right to seek legal counsel and defend against any drunk driving-related accusations. An experienced attorney can determine a DUI defense strategy to increase the odds of achieving the best possible outcome.