Some Important Terms And Definitions Under The Law
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Every year thousands of people die because of alcohol related automobile accidents on the roads. In one way or other it affects all of us, no matter whether it is the financial loss or even... |
Every year thousands of people die because of alcohol related automobile accidents on the roads. In one way or other it affects all of us, no matter whether it is the financial loss or even alcohol-related health problems to our society, it costs billions of dollars. Therefore stringent laws related to DWI have been enacted all over the world especially in the America. When it comes to Texas, it has zero tolerance for DWI related incidences.
Most of us drink and sometimes drive too. So there are bright chances that someday we may come across a situation where we might need some help to save ourselves. In order to save yourself from the penalties due to DWI laws in Texas, you must be aware of the Texas DWI laws terms and definitions. A sound understanding of the law terms and definitions would offer you the best chances to save yourself from being termed as a convict.
Here is a list of all the important DWI laws terms and definitions:
a) BAC 0.08: This is called Blood Alcohol Concentration. Alcohol concentration is defined by the statute as: the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; the number of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath; or, the number of grams of alcohol per 67 milliliters of urine.
b) Intoxilyzer: This is a portable machine just like Breathalyzer but considered to be better than Breathalyzer. Even in Texas, Intoxilyzer 5000 does police breath alcohol concentration testing. Here Breathalyzers are not used. It is said to work on the basis of infrared light absorption by alcohol detected in a person’s breath.
c) Breathalyzer: This is a portable machine utilized by law enforcement so as to measure the Blood Alcohol Concentration of suspected drunk drivers.
d) Administrative License Suspension: It is a law wherein the prompt suspension of the license of drivers charged with driving while intoxicated is allowed. In this case, the BAC of the driver is above the prescribed limit. In some cases, this is applied if a driver refuses to take a roadside blood or breath test.
e) Commercial Vehicle: The vehicle driven for business purposes is termed as a commercial vehicle.
f) Deadly Weapon: According to Texas DWI law statute, any motor vehicle can be termed as a deadly weapon where an alcohol related accident results in a death or where a death could have occurred by the manner of driving. So, it can be any vehicle that was driven by intoxicated driver who are involved in accident where an actual death has occurred.
g) Chemical Test: The chemical test is a test for the alcohol or drug concentration in a person’s blood. Chemical tests for alcohol may also include a breathalyzer, blood analysis or urinalysis.
Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFSTs): SFST is a standardized police tool used by a law enforcement officer under the DWI law to help try to identify an intoxicated driver. There are three standard steps, such as the horizontal gaze nystagmous (HGN) test; the one-leg stand test; and the walk and turn test. It is believed that originally researchers funded by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) developed these 3 tests. It is worth noted here that a failure of any of these 3 tests means the person has an alcohol concentration of greater than 0.08.
h) Conditional License: This is a term used for a license provided “on condition” of something including completion of DUI course or alcohol treatment program.
i) Community Service: The community service is a compulsory part of your sentencing. Your state may provide community service as a way to work off fine, depending on the offence.
j) DUI School: These are drug and alcohol education programs, specially designed to provide help and make people realize the dangers of drinking and driving.
k) Driver Responsibility Tax: Some states tend to charge people who are convicted of a DUI with an extra tax on top of fines and court costs. This tax is payable to the state for three years after the occurrence of the incident.
l) DWI: The term is expanded for “Driving While Intoxicated”.
m) DUI: The term is expanded for ‘Driving while Under the Influence’.
n) High BAC: It is a term used for threshold blood alcohol content. Here the maximum penalties and fines may also apply.
o) Ignition Interlock Device: It is a device that prevents a vehicle from starting in case; it detects a blood alcohol concentration over a pre-set limit of 0.02.
p) Velony: The term is used for a serious crime such as murder, rape or burglary. In most states DUIs are treated as 3rd degree felony.
Though, we have covered most of the important common terms and definitions here but these are not all inclusive. So readers are advised to do some research at their end. These days there are many useful websites and other online sources, where tons of useful information is available for free.
Recommended Reading
- Common Court Terms Under Texas Dwi Laws
- How Will An Officer Determine If You Are Driving Under The Influence In Las Vegas
- Some Dos And Donts Under The Law
- What To Do When You Are Arrested For The First Time
- How Does A Breathalyzer Test Work
