Articles Posted in Drunk Driving in Massachusetts

Women are being arrested for drunk driving in Massachusetts more and more nowadays. According to a recent release from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, the number of drunk driving arrests among women has skyrocketed in recent years. A near 40 percent increase over the last ten years to be exact. The study also concluded that the average female drunk driver is better educated and older than her male counterparts. These individuals have also been found to be the primary caregivers to children and to have lower-paying jobs, according to The Washington Post.

This news wasn’t a shock to The Century Council, which launch the study after a 2009 accident where a New York mother drove her van on the wrong side of the road and caused an accident that killed her daughter, three nieces, three additional motorists and herself. Officials determined that she was both high and drunk at the wheel.

Our Massachusetts drunk driving car accident attorneys understand that the recent study illustrates mothering and drinking may be a bigger problem than the country realizes. According to The Century Council, drunk driving has been a problem that was predominantly associated with men in the country. Female drunk driver numbers were less common. Recent findings conclude that drunk driving convictions among women have become a top concern for officials since the late 1980s.

Just thirty years ago, women accounted for less than ten percent of the nation’s drunk driving convictions. From 1997 to 2007, the number of female drunk drivers who were busted by law enforcement increased by nearly 30 percent.

The recent study aimed to examine this evidence and to determine the magnitude of the problem, the characteristics of these drivers, their involvement in fatal alcohol-related accidents and different measures that are being used to stop this population of drunk drivers.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults drank and drove more than 110 million times in 2010. Men between the ages of 21- and 34-years-old accounted for less than a third of all drunk driving episodes. Nearly 90 percent of the drunk driving episodes involved binge drinking — 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more drinks for women in a short time frame.

“Nearly 11,000 people are killed every year in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver,” says CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.

The Century Council says that the average age of a first drunk driving offense for a female is 31-years-old. A good portion of female drunk drivers are separated, divorced, single or are more likely to be living with a partner with an alcohol problem.

In many cases, female drunk driving offenders are likely to be the primary caretaker of children at the time of arrest, they’re likely to have experienced abuse and are more likely to have physical and mental health needs
As this problem grows, it’s important to keep an eye on the females in our lives. Parenting and modern-day problems take a toll on all of us. Let’s not allow these problems get out of hand. An occasional cocktail is alright, especially when enjoying it with friends a family members during the holidays, just don’t get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol. The consequences can be serious!
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Drunk driving car accidents in Massachusetts are expected to be a common occurrence through the remainder of the year. Each year, the holiday season sees more car accidents than any other time of the year. To combat drunk drivers and to prevent these accidents, the Watertown police recently made an announcement of their increased patrolling efforts from December 17th through the New Year, according to the Boston Globe.

The police department will be joining the efforts of officers statewide to curb these types of accidents. Police Chief Edward Deveau says his department’s message is clear, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

“Drinking alcohol and driving do not mix,” Deveau said. “If you plan to consume alcohol, you should also plan not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle.”

Our Massachusetts drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that the Watertown Police Department’s efforts to track down drunk drivers through the holidays is a part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Police departments throughout the country have received federal grant money from the Security’s Highway Safety Division and the Executive Office of Public Safety to help pay for these enforcement efforts. Including the Watertown Police Department, there will be nearly 200 local law enforcement agencies joining the campaign alongside the Massachusetts State Police.

Deveau would like to remind drivers that there’s no holiday cheer in jail and every year too many drivers spend their holidays behind bars for drinking and driving. In 2010, there were nearly 60 people in the state of Massachusetts who were killed in drunk driving accidents.

The Massachusetts’ Public Safety Office offers you these tips to have a safe holiday season:

-Plan a safe way to get home before heading out to holiday gatherings. A designated driver is someone who has had nothing to drink, not the person who’s had the least to drink.

-If you don’t have a designated driver and you’ve been drinking, you’re urged to call a sober friend or a family member for a ride.

-If there’s no one available to pick you up, consider calling a taxi or using public transportation.

-If you’ve been drinking and don’t have a ride home, there’s always the option to get a hotel room or to stay at a friend’s house.

-If you spot a drunk driver on our roadways, officials ask you to contact law enforcement with the vehicle’s information and the location and direction it’s heading.

-If you see someone who has been drinking and is about to drive, take their car keys away from them and assist them in finding a safe way home. You’re intervention could help to save a life.

Yes, the holiday season is the perfect time for gathering with friends and family, but there’s never a good time to get behind the wheel after drinking. Have a happy holiday season and please be responsible.
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Reports indicate that those who have been convicted of operating under the influence (OUI) charges are being handed lenient sentences and minimal punishments in the state. Melanie’s Law was passed six years ago in the state to keep drunk drivers off of our roadways and to prevent drunk driving accidents in Massachusetts.

Republicans aren’t happy with the way the law’s being enforced so they’re calling for legislative oversight hearings to review the state’s drunk driving laws, according to The Herald News.

Melanie’s Law brought new penalties for both Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol and Operating After Suspension for Drunk Driving. Under this law, a driver who is busted driving under the influence with a suspended license for a previous OUI can be charged with two crimes; an OUI and an OUI with a suspended license. The additional offense comes with a minimum of a mandatory one-year jail sentence.

Our Boston drunk driving accident attorneys understand that Republican officials recently wrote a letter to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary requesting that one or more oversight hearings be carried out to look at the effectiveness of Massachusetts’ laws governing those who drive under the influence. One of the most beneficial measures in preventing drunk driving accidents in strict laws with appropriate sentences, studies have shown.

The Republicans also noted in the letter that they recognize the benefits that our state has seen since the passing of Melanie’s Law, but that the law is useless if it’s not properly enforced. Too many offenders are being let off easy after being charged with dangerous drunk driving crimes.

The letter voices displeasure with judges who have let off drunk driving defendants with a minimal punishment. The Republicans believe that these decisions are endangering innocent motorists on our roadways.

They reiterate that these hearings should not be used to place blame or to cast aspersions, but to help make our legal system stronger and our roads safer. This law was meant to be used as a comprehensive way to deal with these difficult cases. Melanie’s Law serves a black and white procedure to deal with drunk driving offenders.

In 2010, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted our state as being one of the 10 states that were doing the least to prevent drunk driving accidents. The letter states that our system’s failure to properly convict and sentence these offenders has done nothing but encourage the dangerous behavior. The caucus noted that there was an 80 percent acquittal rate for these cases and that raises a red flag for safe driving advocates and politicians statewide.

As the holidays draw near, we can expect more drunk drivers to be out on our roadways. Residents are urged to be responsible behind the wheel not only to avoid a headache in court, but to avoid a potentially fatal accident as well. Please be responsible throughout the remainder of the year and well beyond.
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Fatal alcohol-related car accidents in Massachusetts rank our state at 31st in the U.S. In 2009, there were nearly 110 people who died in the state because of drunk driving accidents. These accidents cost tax payers nearly $800 million, according to the Berkshire Eagle.

Recently, friends and family members of those who have been killed in an alcohol-related traffic accident gathered at St. Stephen’s Church to remember loved ones. There were nearly 100 people at the candlelight vigil, which was hosted by the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office.

Our Boston drunk driving car accident lawyers understand that the holidays are a time for friends and family members to gather and give thanks. Unfortunately, friends and family members gathered at the St. Stephen’s Church to remember those who aren’t able to join us today. Every year, thousands of people are killed in drunk driving car accidents. These numbers skyrocket during the holiday season. Drivers are urged to be safe and responsible throughout the remainder of the year.

“This remembrance is the one gift we can give back to those we lost,” he continued. “Once again, sadly, the list has grown,” said District Attorney David F. Capeless.

Capeless also used this time to remind our community that December National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month. Capeless stood before our neighbors and spoke of nearly 50 local residents who had been killed in impaired-driving accidents. As Capeless would recognize each victim, a family member or a friend of that person would approach the altar and would light a candle on their behalf. If no one was able to attend for a particular victim, members from the Massachusetts State Police Department would light the candle for them. Many of the victim’s names were read with accompanying photos projected through a monitor on the front of the altar.

Capeless says that there are more and more names on the list every year, but it’s an event in which we can all come together to recognize our loved ones and to raise awareness about the problem — drunk driving.

This event has been hosted by the District Attorney’s Office since the late 80s.

With Christmas and New Year’s right around the corner, officials are expecting a significant increase in the number of fatalities we’ll see on our roadways, many of these alcohol-related. Residents are urged to be responsible during the holiday season and to avoid getting into the vehicle after consuming alcohol.

Residents are reminded to always designate a sober driver. If you’re unable to find a driver, consider spending the night in either a hotel room or at a friend’s house. There’s no reason for anyone to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season and ask everyone to celebrate responsibly.
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Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family and to give thanks. Unfortunately, this is also a time when our roadways will be crowded and more dangerous than ever.

There will be nearly 40 million people who will travel more than 50 miles to join friends and family for a Thanksgiving celebration. Roughly 90 percent of these people will be traveling on U.S. roadways. This thankful holiday is a common backdrop for drunk-driving car accidents in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Recent statistics illustrate that Thanksgiving eve is the second most popular party night of the year.

Thanksgiving is the holiday where we see the most drunk-driving fatalities out of the entire year. Our Boston drunk driving accident attorneys understand that there has been an average of more than 560 alcohol-related car accident fatalities on this holiday in each of the last five year’s. Thousands more are injured each year.

Although law enforcement officials amp up their drunk-driving enforcement during popular holiday periods, far too many accidents still happen. It has been estimated that roughly 30 percent of all U.S. residents will be involved in an alcohol-related accident. Your chances of being the victim of a drunk-driving accident are higher than you may think, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

On Thanksgiving and the following weekend, drivers are urged to plan safe routes, stay the night somewhere or just stay home altogether to help reduce risks of being involved in one of these drunk-driving accidents. If you see someone who you believe is drunk on our roadways, you should not hesitate to call local authorities.

We urge all residents to do their part to keep motorists safe during the holiday season. Let’s be able to give thanks for safe roadways this Thanksgiving.

‘The 2011 National “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” Campaign will be going strong throughout the holiday season and the remainder of the year.

2011 National “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” campaigns:

-November 27 through December 11, 2011: Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving
-December 16, 2011 through January 2, 2012: Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.

If you think you’ve spotted a drunk driver on our roadways during the Thanksgiving holiday period or during any other time of the year, you are urged to call local authorities. Be sure to have the color, make and model of the car when calling. Be ready to provide the location and the headed direction of the suspicious vehicle as well. Authorities warn you to steer clear of the vehicle. Don’t get too close and risk your own safety. Your call could save a life.

Be responsible and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Officials are crediting a 6-year-old law that makes ignition interlock devices a requirement for repeat drunk-driving offenders for the decrease of drunk-driving accidents in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Globe. Officials are looking to make the so-called Melanie’s Law even stronger, requiring it for all first-time offenders as well.

Our Boston drunk-driving accident attorneys understand that the requirement of ignition interlocks for repeat offenders was mandated after Melanie Powell, 13, was killed by a drunk-driving repeat offender. Ignition interlock devices require a driver to test below a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 through a breath test before the car will start. It will also ask for random breath tests throughout the drive to ensure that it wasn’t falsely started.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles reports that there have been about 10,000 people who have these breath-test devices installed into their vehicles after a second drunk-driving conviction. Only about 120 of these people were convicted of a subsequent drunken-driving offense.

According to federal officials, there has been a near 30 percent drop in the number of drunk-driving accidents in Massachusetts from 2005 to 2009. Enforcement officials credit this decrease to tougher enforcement efforts and safer vehicles.

Officials from Mothers Against Drunk Driving say that they’ve always been an advocate of ignition interlock devices and are currently backing legislation to mandate these devices everywhere, according to Nashoba Publishing.

“If the repeat offender who hit and killed Melanie had an interlock device on her car after her first drunk-driving offense, Melanie Powell would be in college today,” said Ron Bersani, Melanie’s grandpa. “Please, remember Melanie and remember every victim of drunk-driving crashes.”

Sen. Robert Hedlund, R-Weymouth, is pushing for a stricter Melanie’s Law. Currently, drivers only have to have the device once they’re deemed to be a habitual offender. Hedlund would like ignition interlock devices to be installed in all drivers’ cars after their first drunk-driving offense.

He’s also pushing for a bill that would lift Massachusetts’ ban on discounted or free drinks in restaurants and bars. This amendment would bring back happy hour to the state. Happy hours and drink specials were banned in the state back in 1984 because of officials’ concerns about drunk driving.

Hedlund says the proposal for a stricter Melanie’s Law and a revival of the happy hour has nothing to do with one another. He says that the removal of happy hour didn’t significantly cut down the number of drunk-driving accidents as Melanie’s Law did.

“Nothing changed until Melanie’s Law came along,” said Hedlund. “That’s the first thing we did that had an impact in decades.”

Our Boston drunk-driving accident attorneys ask you to be safe behind the wheel, especially as we head into 2012. The holiday season is typically when we experience a significant increase in the number of serious drunk-driving accidents. Drive safe, drive sober, drive safely and have a Happy New Year!
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Drunk driving accidents in Massachusetts could be less common if researchers involved in a new technology device for vehicles gets the funding it needs.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the U.S. Senate is looking to grant more money to the developers of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS). DADSS, which recently entered its second phase of testing, will not allow a driver to start a vehicle if his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.08, which is the legal limit in the United States. This in-vehicle, alcohol-detection system could be used nationwide.

Our Boston drunk driving accident attorneys understand the consequences of drunk drivers on our roadways. All too often these drivers set out behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after consuming impairing amounts of alcohol and put innocent motorists’ lives in danger. Oftentimes these accidents kill innocent people. As we round the final corner of 2011, we can expect an increase in the number of drunk driving accidents throughout the country. Unfortunately, the holiday season brings out far too many intoxicated drivers. We ask that everyone enjoy their holiday season, but do so with a watchful eye on our roadways.

The Senate is considering legislation that could increase funding for the further development and research of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety. The announcement comes as MADD marks its fifth anniversary of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

“MADD thanks the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the automakers who are moving forward on this important research activity,” said Jan Withers, MADD national president.

Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray are the two behind the push for more funding to help prevent drunk driving. The funding will be provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the research, creation and development of this technology.

The legislation could potentially give $6 million to help develop and test the DADSS. Before the recent consideration, developers were only going to get about $5 million from the current fiscal year. Researchers are also hoping to get their hands on the extra funding that was left over from seat belt law incentive programs.

The Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety started when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration joined efforts with the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety. The two organizations are tackling drunk driving accidents and looking to develop a useful technology that will be accepted by the public to stop drunk drivers in an “un-invasive” way. When all is said and done, the organizations believe that the devices could potentially save about 8,000 lives every year. In Phase II, developers will create a test vehicle within the next two years to be used, tested and analyzed.
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There were a slew of DUI checkpoints conducted during a recent weekend by the Massachusetts State Police. These checkpoints resulted in a number of motor-vehicle citations, criminal summonses and arrests. The checkpoints are an important tool to help officers remove dangerous drivers from our roadways,

One of the weekend checkpoints took place from Friday night through the early morning of Saturday to help bust intoxicated drivers before they caused a drunk driving accident in Massachusetts. In this particular checkpoint, the State Police’s Troop A conducted traffic stops in Lawrence on Route 28. Nearly 10 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence, more than 100 motor-vehicle violation citations were written and three criminal summonses were issued.

Our Boston drunk-driving accident attorneys would like to tell you more about the recent efforts of our state officers to get dangerous drivers off our roadways. During the same time period, the State’s Troop B set up shop in Springfield on State Street. This checkpoint resulted in more than 50 motor-vehicle violation citations, nearly 10 criminal summonses, five DUI arrests and three additional arrests.

Through the Saturday evening/Sunday morning efforts, officers from Troop H conducted checkpoints in Cambridge on Memorial Drive. These officers were able to issue more than 40 motor-vehicle violation citations, nearly 10 DUI arrests and three additional arrests.

Sobriety checkpoints are already scheduled for the future.

Every time our officers conduct a sobriety checkpoint, hundreds if not thousands of driver pass through. These checkpoints help officials to weed out the irresponsible drivers while also searching for vehicles that may not be safe to be on our roadways.

In 2009, there were nearly 350 traffic accident fatalities in the state of Massachusetts. More than about 130 of these fatalities were alcohol-related and nearly 100 were fatal drunk driving-related accidents.

Even with the strict penalties for drunk driving in the state of Massachusetts, drivers continue to disregard public safety and continue to get behind the wheel after having a few too many drinks.

OUI/DUI Penalties for First Offense in Massachusetts:

-Jail time. Up to 2.5 years.

-A fine from $500 to $5,000.

-License suspension for a year with the ability to obtain an education/work hardship after three months and a general hardship after six months.

OUI/DUI Penalties for Second Offense in Massachusetts:

-Jail time. Mandatory jail time of 30 days. No more than 2,5 years.

-A fine from $600 to $10,000.

-License suspension for two years with the ability to obtain an education/work hardship after one year and a general hardship after 18 months.

-As of January 1st 2006, a second time offender must have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in the offenders car for at least two years. The cost of this device falls on the offender.
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