The Need for Stricter Drunk Driving Laws: An outline

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Attention-Getting Device Did you know that every 20 minutes one American life is lost to an alcohol related crash? Or that www.duistats.com states that every year, 708,000 persons are injured in alcohol related crashes and 74, 000 of those people suffer serious injuries. Well according to The Criminal Law Handbook: Know Your Rights, Survive the System if you are convicted of DUI and it is only your first offense you will only receive 3-5 yrs probation, up to a $1,000 fine, and possibly 6 months in jail. Now that seems like nothing compared to someone else’s life don’t you think? Thesis Statement Today, I am going to briefly review some major reasons why we need Stricter Drunk driving laws. Preview First, I will review how drunk driving has become a problem. Next, I will explain some of the reasons drunk driving has increased. And finally, I will discuss some of the solutions to drunk driving. Body I. Lenient DUI laws have created a problem. A. While drunk drivers who cause injuries or deaths may spend some time behind bars as punishment for their actions, for their victims the accident can often be a life sentence. Drunk driving has lifelong ramifications for those who are injured and who must live the rest of their lives with pain, disability, isolation, medical bills, or the loss of loved ones. While drunk-driving offenders can usually reclaim a normal life after their eventual release from jail, victims may never regain the normalcy that was taken from them so abruptly. B. According to a National Survey published in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, alcohol related car accidents have increased by 17% since 2004. C. Of every 200 to 2,000 alcohol impaired drivers on ... ... middle of paper ... ...e that prevents drunk driving offenders from operating motor vehicles while intoxicated by requiring a breath test from the driver before the vehicle will start. b. The devices also contain computer chips that record drivers' attempts to drive drunk. c. Interlocks have been found to be very effective in reducing repeated or habitual relapse amongst offenders with an average of 3.5 convictions (That is a 65% reduction in this group, with a year's interlock program) this was found in a study by The University of Maryland. Conclusion In Conclusion, drinking and driving is never a good idea. We must work together to urge our government to create stricter drunk driving laws so we may have safer roadways. So next time you are thinking about drinking and driving, think again because in the future it could mean $1,000’s in fines and maybe even years in jail.

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