The first law against drunk driving has been in New York in 1910. It was not long before every state in the U.S. had banned driving while intoxicated, probably more dangerous that riding in the same state. These early laws is not a maximum BAC (blood alcohol concentration) or describe the tests to be administered to the person accused of drunk driving. They merely stated that you not drive drunk and left the police and judges to enforce these saw how they fit.

The first BAC for drivers in the year 1938: this year it was illegal to drive with a BAC over .15, or 15%. This figure was calculated on the basis of studies conducted by the American Medical Association and the National Safety Council, which both agreed that the research showed a person with a BAC under ,15-Drive are still quite good.

This remained the law in most parts of the United States until 1970. At that time, activist groups such as Mothers against drunk driving (Madd) started for stricter DWI laws and more vigilant enforcement. Prior to this time was not a DWI too serious insult, and police would not enforce it very strictly. Madd (and his student group, Saïd) believes that too many preventable deaths were from this relaxed attitude to driving intoxicated. They successfully under pressure in most countries, a reduction of the BAC to .10. Now that the influence of the federal government, all states have a maximum blood alcohol concentration, 08

Other important changes to the law followed. Madd involvement was one of the factors that led to the decision of the Congress, the minimum age for alcohol consumption reaches back to 21 Of course, Madden was not the only group to draw attention to this subject. From the 1970s until today, people have more and less tolerant of DWI offenses. Sobriety checkpoints are acceptable when at one point, they were widely perceived as unfair or even unconstitutional. For drivers under 21 years, the BAC was to 01, because they are not legally drink at all (although in some states, like Texas, minors may drink in the presence of a parent or guardian.)

A current controversy in DWI law is the question of the role of law enforcement is to play to solve this problem. If a person from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they should be punished or rehabilitated? Does the punishment approach is not the problem, or is the concept of rehabilitation of people only too easy?

If you have questions about laws related to DWI, drunk driving Dallas attorney Mark T. Lassiter can to help.

Joseph Devine