A 2014 report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that Missouri has a significant drunk driving problem. Instances in which motorists get behind the wheel of their cars while under the influence of alcohol often result in someone else getting hurt or losing their life. State officials have taken measures in recent years to identify intoxicated drivers and get them off the road before they maim or kill someone.
What the statistics say about drunk driving in Missouri
CDC data shows how at least 1.9% of American adults polled in 2012 admitted to getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol. At least 1.8% of Missourians admitted to doing the same.
The federal agency’s data also shows how drunk driving resulted in 3,314 individuals losing their lives in crashes in Missouri between 2003 and 2012. This state’s death rate was 1.5 points higher than the national average in 2012. Missouri’s drunk driving death rates were highest among males at 7.8 per 100,000.
What constitutes drunk driving here in Missouri?
Missouri’s legal limit is .08%. Any motorist who operates a vehicle with a blood alcohol content level (BAC) higher than this may face driving under the influence (DUI) charges. There are zero-tolerance laws in place for motorists under the age of 21. Special rules apply to commercial drivers as well. Law enforcement officers often set up sobriety checkpoints to stop potentially intoxicated motorists in specific target areas.
How does Missouri punish convicted drunk drivers?
Anyone who refuses testing or has a test that comes back showing that their BAC is over the .08% legal limit can have their driver’s license suspended or revoked. Anyone convicted of DUI may also face jail time, fines and be required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle once their license is reinstated.
You owe it to yourself to put up your most vigorous effort to defend yourself against the charges you’re facing, given how high the stakes can be. A DUI attorney can review the evidence in your Kansas City case and help you devise defense strategies that you can employ in a Missouri courtroom to ensure that you can live a productive life once your court case is adjudicated.