Q. What is the punishment for Driving Under the Influence or DUI in Houston & can I get appropriate SR22 Insurance?

A: Our guide to car insurance rates is designed to give you all the necessary knowledge to lower your premiums. A number of states have expanded upon DUI laws to make operating a motor vehicle while impaired a punishable offense, which includes sleep deprived driving, among other things.  The chemical or physical breath test must be incidental to a lawful arrest and administered at the request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to believe such person was driving or was in actual physical control of the motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

It is a criminal offense in all states to drive a vehicle while under the influence of drugs DUID, or under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs; the drugs themselves need not be illegal, but can be prescription or even over-the-counter.  In some states, the effects of some herbal remedies (such as Kava extract) fall into this category.  This offense requires evidence of impairment as a result of the drugs or drugs and alcohol, although some states have passed laws making driving with the mere presence of certain drugs a criminal offense.

However, the offense may be elevated to a felony (punishable by a longer term in state prison) if the incident caused serious injury (felony DUI), death (vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide), or extensive property damage (a state specified dollar amount) or if the defendant has a designated number of prior DUI convictions within a given time period (commonly, 3 prior convictions within 7 years).

Tags: Alcohol And Drugs, Alcoholic Beverages, Breath Test, car insurance rates, Criminal Offense, Driving Under The Influence, Drugs And Alcohol, Drugs The Drugs, Dui Convictions, Dui Laws, Duid, Extensive Property, Insurance Houston, Lawful Arrest, Necessary Knowledge, Prior Convictions, Punishable Offense, Sr22 Insurance, Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Manslaughter