Drunk driving is an offense in almost all states in the country. While most people seem to understand that, there is a lot of confusion around special circumstances and what happens in the event they occur. For example, have you ever wondered what the law says about refusing a breathalyzer test? Read on to learn more about this issue.
You Have A Right To Refuse
If you are pulled over by the police and asked to do a breathalyzer test, you need to be aware that you are within your rights to refuse to take the test. In most states, the police cannot force you to take the test. However, they can still charge you with a criminal offense known as refusing to take a breathalyzer test. In most cases, the penalty for this crime, if you are found guilty, is the same as failing a breathalyzer test. This is because the law assumes that you must have refused to take a breathalyzer test because you were intoxicated and thus would have failed the test anyway.
Possible Penalties
Legal penalties for drunk driving vary across different states. Generally speaking, the penalty varies depending on whether this is the first time one has been caught drunk driving, the extent of intoxication, and many other factors. In most cases, you are likely to lose your license for a while, pay a fine, or be compelled to undergo a DUI education program that is intended to sensitize people on the dangers of DUI. On the more severe end of the spectrum, one could face jail time, severe fines, and even complete suspension of one’s driving license. It thus follows that if the consequences of refusing to take a breathalyzer test are the same as those of failing a test, then you could potentially find yourself facing these consequences as well.
Should You Refuse?
This is a difficult question to answer. Rather than ask this, the more pertinent question would be, should you operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated? The potential risks and consequences of drunk driving are massive. For example, the loss of a license, which might sound rather benign might have far-reaching consequences for you. For example, not being able to drive might lead to you losing your job, and falling behind in class, especially if you are working and studying at the same time. There are of course more severe consequences. Jail time for example or even worse. This is not to mention all the potential harm that you could do while driving under the influence. Thousands of people are killed every year on American roads by intoxicated drivers.
DUI Education Programs
Fortunately, there are a number of DUI education programs that are available all across the United States. If you have a court-mandated DUI class, it is great to find somewhere where you can attend classes while at the same time having the flexibility to carry on with your life. For example, classes are offered all through the day, which means that you do not have to skip work or class to attend a court-mandated DUI education program.
Recent Comments