DUI West Virginia Drug & Alcohol Rehab Treatment

All throughout the state of West Virginia, alcohol is a major factor in all of the car accidents and fatalities in the state. In fact, 30% of all car accidents and fatalities are due to drinking and driving, or driving under the influence. This is according to Statemaster.com and the Center for Disease Control. All of these crashes due to impaired driving cost the tax payers a substantial sum of money in the amount of $1,000,000,000.00 each year. This is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Subsequently, all of the DUI laws across the state are getting much tougher.

DUI in West Virginia means Driving While Intoxicated, meaning not having the normal use of your mental and physical abilities due to any form of drug or alcohol use. Every citizen who does receive a license in West Virginia automatically gives consent for BAC, or Blood Alcohol Content Tests. This means that your blood, breath, and urine can be tested if you are under the suspicion of being under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. The ‘per-se’ law of West Virginia is, if your blood alcohol content is that of .08%, you can be charged with a criminal offense. This percentage constitutes that of being impaired, and you can also be prosecuted while driving under the influence. This can only happen if you are proven to have been driving in an unsafe manner.

After the addicted individual have been charged in the state of West Virginia, you will be facing the criminal courts and the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). When this happens, your license will then be suspended or revoked. Because you are being charged with a DUI, which is a criminal offense, you will be offered a formal hearing. You will be given a ten day period, so you can make a request for an administrative hearing with the DMV, in order to avoid losing your license.

When you are charged with your first DUI offense in the state of West Virginia and you are arrested and convicted. You will face 24 hours in jail with up to six months, a $100 - $500 fine, and a license suspension for six months, and you must successfully complete a safety and treatment program. When you are charged a second time, you will face six months to one year on jail, a $1000 - $3000 fine, your license will be revoked for ten years, or suspended for one year, with a mandatory ignition interlock device installed, and you must complete a safety and treatment program. When you are charged for a third time, you will face one to three years in jail, a $3000 - $5000 fine, lifetime revocation of your license, or a revoked license for one year and a mandatory ignition interlock device installed; along with completing a safety and treatment program.

^{Works Cited - DUI-Help.com 1997, 15 June 2009 <http://dui-help.com/>
United States DUI Laws 2006, 15 June 2009 <http://dui.drivinglaws.org/index.php}

 

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