Drunk Driving Penalties Get Severe

December 2005

What’s the most common crime in the United States? It’s drunk-driving. According to the FBI, 1.5 million drunk-driving cases are filed annually.

New Hampshire leads the nation for alcohol consumption with 4 gallons a year per person, but New Mexico takes the lead for alcohol-related road deaths with 219. Seventy percent of these fatalities were by first-time offenders.

Each state has their own penalties for driving while under the influence. In response to New Mexico’s increased death rate, the state beefed up their laws this year in hopes that their statistics will slim down. First time offenders lose their licenses for a year, and must use an ignition device system that will only start their cars if their blood alcohol level is 0.025 or lower. Licenses allowing offenders to travel to work are no longer issued and repeat offenders lose their licenses for up to five years. Criminal penalties range from 90 days in jail for a first-time offense to three years for a seventh conviction.

For more information about drunk driving laws in our state, visit the Pennsylvania Drunk Driving Legal Center.

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