The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that men are responsible for about 80 percent of all drunk driving episodes. D.C. DUI attorneys probably see men every 4 out of 5 clients, too. Convictions often mean job loss, loss of transportation to and from work, and other hardships for families.
Fighting drunk driving charges in the District is easier than most think. Granted, no one wants to get busted for drunk driving. But what you do in the aftermath can have a drastic impact on your case. News Channel 8 and TBD report authorities are examining the risk-taking ways of men and other factors that may help determine why there is such a large gender discrepancy. However, on the defense side of the equation the reasons why matter little. It’s the fact that men face a threat to their livelihood and their ability to care for their families which must be defended against.
Even the CDC’s own report shows a drastic decline in the number of fatal drunk driving accidents — from 56,000 a year in the 1960s to about 11,000 last year. Yet law enforcement continues to increase the resources spent on sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and other efforts aimed at increasing the number of DUI arrests. As we reported recently on our D.C. Traffic Defense Blog, authorities are using law enforcement roadblocks as much for the public relations value as for any real value in arresting drunk drivers.
The government also reports the number of self-reported drunk driving episodes has plummeted — down 30 percent in the last 5 years. The TBD also took a look at the government’s four-decade effort to demonize drunk driving.
Other findings of the study:
–The Midwest boozes the most — with 643 drunk-driving episodes per 1,000 population. North Dakota (988), Delaware (843) and Massachusetts (835) were states with the highest rates.
-The CDC still backs sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlock devices. What many defendants fail to realize about ignition interlock devices, beyond the embarrassment, is the cost, which can be several thousand dollars over the life of a court order.
-The Feds also continue to report the effectiveness of DUI checkpoints as worthwhile PR campaigns with 75 percent of the public in support.
As we head into the holiday season, the risk of false or unfair arrest looms large.
If you are facing DUI charges in D.C., contact the Scrofano Law, PC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights or fill out our online contact form. Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards accepted. Call 202-946-5783.
