P.O. Box 10145 Danville, VA 24543
SEE THRU ALCOHOL
But everyone drinks... it's legal.
Yes, alcohol is legal for adults, but it remains a powerful and toxic substance that can cause serious harm to your body and mind. Alcohol is legal because attempts to ban it failed, and governments now choose to regulate and tax it instead of creating a dangerous black market.
- Banning alcohol nationwide in the U.S. via the 18th Amendment in 1920 did not stop people from drinking.
- Prohibition created a massive illegal market run by violent gangs and mobsters.
- Illegal alcohol ("moonshine") was often poisonous or deadly because it lacked safety rules.
- The U.S. ended Prohibition in 1933 with the 21st Amendment because the ban caused more harm than good.
Drinking in general has lots of controversia opinions on good or bad, but ldrinking and driving is on another playing field! The following are the Blood alcohol Content for each sub group:
• Adult Drivers (21+): Illegal at 0.08% or higher, though you can still be convicted at a lower BAC if an officer proves visible impairment.
• Commercial Drivers: Illegal at 0.04% or higher.
• Underage Drivers (Under 21): Zero tolerance policy; illegal at 0.02% to under 0.08% (and any measurable amount under 0.02%).
Do you know what ONE DUI can do to your record in the state of Virginia?
It's really not worth it!
Standard First Offense (BAC 0.08%–0.14%): Class 1 misdemeanor carrying a fine from $250 to $2,500, up to 12 months in jail, a mandatory 1-year driver's license suspension, and mandatory participation in the VASAP ( Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program)
Elevated BAC (0.15%–0.20%): Includes a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 5 days.
High BAC (0.21+): Includes a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 10 days.
Ignition Interlock: Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for restricted driving privileges
Ignition Interlock Device
An ignition interlock device (IID) is essentially a breathalyzer machine that is installed into the dashboard of a car. The ignition interlock device will require a person to blow into the machine before the vehicle can be started. If any detectable amount of alcohol is registered on the machine from a person’s breath, the car will not start and the machine will record the event, and in most cases will be reported to the Judge that ordered the ignition interlock device on the car.
Additionally, the ignition interlock device can be set to require you to periodically blow into the machine while the car is running, in order to keep it running. This is done to prevent an intoxicated person from having a friend blow into the machine to help start the car, and then driving off after the vehicle has been started.
The cost of having the ignition interlock device installed, and for the rental of the machine will be paid by the person who was ordered to have it installed in their car. The cost is usually about $75 per month. The ignition interlock device will need to be returned to the installer every 30 to 60 days to be calibrated. Calibration of the machines is required to ensure the programmed blood alcohol concentration stays constant.
Although most of the time ignition interlock devices are installed as a result of a judge’s order, there are times when I recommend my clients to have one installed without a court having ordered the machine to be installed. This most often times occurs when my client is facing a felony DUI charge and I want to be able to show the court, or possibly the jury, that my client has been driving without alcohol use for a considerable period of time.
Alcohol ages you... but if you quit now, you can get some life back!
