’Tis the Season for friends, family and festivities, and according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, December has the highest frequency of collisions among all months. In 2010 in Indiana, 24.7 percent of all fatal collisions were alcohol-related – almost 1 in every 4 accidents. Of the fatal collisions that were alcohol-related, 75.1 percent involved a driver that was legally alcohol-impaired – 3 in every 4 accidents. In 2010, 135 people were killed in collisions that involved an alcohol-impaired driver.

Project RAD would like to remind you to drink responsibly at all times – meaning have a designated driver, take a cab or find a hotel. Arrive Alive in 2012 is designed to create awareness for responsible alcohol consumption and give helpful tips and important information to enjoy a fun and safe holiday season.

Defining a designated driver:

  • A designated driver is a person in a group of two or more drinking adults who agrees not to drink any alcoholic beverages and to safely transport the other group members home.
  • A large group may need more than one designated driver.
  • Designated drivers should not drink any alcoholic beverages and are therefore never the person least drunk.
  • Designated drivers are also important if someone is taking medication that makes them drowsy or otherwise impaired.

According to the Army Substance Abuse Office:

  • Every day, 32 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 45 minutes.
  • One in three fatal motor vehicle crashes involves an alcohol-impaired driver.
  • Alcohol-impaired driving takes an especially high toll on young people. One of every three drivers ages 21 to 24 who was killed in a motor vehicle crash in 2008 had a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 (the legal limit) or above.

Indiana DUI Penalties
The State of Indiana punishes offenders in a first driving under the influence (DUI) in Indiana criminal case via both criminal penalties and administrative action by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The following penalties outline those applicable to adult offenders with a private operator’s license. In turn, minors in violation of zero tolerance laws, juvenile offenders, commercial drivers, and drivers without a valid license should consult with legal counsel to determine the penalties faced, which will be vastly different in certain instances.

Administrative Penalties

  • First offense DUI in Indiana results in administrative license suspension of 180 days with possibility of obtaining a restricted or hardship license in almost all cases
  • Reinstatement handled on a case-by-case basis, with the possibility of hardship reinstatement requiring use of an ignition interlock device
  • Refusals to submit under Indiana’s implied consent laws result in administrative license suspension of one year

Criminal Penalties

  • First offense convictions for DUI in Indiana do not require any mandatory minimum period of incarceration, but can potentially result in incarceration of not more than 60 days
  • First offense convictions, by statute, do not mandate alcohol/substance abuse assessment or education, but in practice, most sentences or court proceedings will require these elements
  • First offense convictions of DUI in Indiana result in fines ranging from not more than $500 to not more than $5,000, based on the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the offender at the time of arrest, but the fine amount does not cover court costs, surcharges and other associated expenses related to resolving a DUI case
  • Convictions influence subsequent or future DUI convictions indefinitely

Other Possible Penalties

  • Ignition interlock device
  • Community service
  • Attend a victim impact panel
  • Substance abuse education
  • Submit to urine testing

Is it the money?
Is it the burden or worry of leaving your car and waiting till the next day?
A cab fare from a bar to home could be $20 to $25 and a friend or cab ride the next morning may take some time out of your day, but a DUI could cost you much more:

  • Fines
  • Court costs
  • Suspended driver’s license
  • Attorney fees
  • Insurance rate increases
  • Loss of a job
  • Death of a loved one

Hosting house parties
If you are a host for a party, here are some things you can do to promote responsible drinking at a social function:

  • Provide plenty of non-alcoholic beverages
  • Do not pressure guests to drink
  • Serve food to slow the rate of absorption of alcohol
  • Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is over
  • If guests drink too much, call a cab, arrange a ride with a sober driver or find them a hotel room or guest room

Holiday Stay Don’t Drive Hotel Sponsors:

  • Indianapolis Marriot Downtown
    350 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
  • Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing
    8787 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis, IN  46240
  • Jameson Inn, Castleton Indiana
    8380 Kelly Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46250

Taxi Directory of Indiana:
www.1800taxicab.com/taxi-indiana.htm

Indiana Hotel Resources:
http://www.indianahotels.org/visitindiana.html

Sources:
http://www.in.gov/cji/files/FactBook_2010.pdf
www.carlisle.army.mil/banner/article.cfm?id=2276
www.ycindy.com/