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February 27, 2010
Drunk-Driving
             
 
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DUI/DWI Terms and Definitions

 
 

Reasonable suspicion
The officer must have what is legally termed a "reasonable suspicion," based on something unusual that is actually observed about the way a person is driving. This is a very low standard and it can be satisfied by virtually anything which appears out of the ordinary and that might be a sign of a driver being under the influence. In addition, during holiday seasons, police officers typically set up field sobriety checkpoints where they routinely stop every driver who passes through the checkpoint.

Arraignment
Sometimes referred to as a “first appearance.” This date is typically located on the DWI Summons & Complaint near the “court appearance required” box that should be checked off. The arraignment is a formal procedure where rights are read, charges are read and explained, and a plea (guilty or not guilty) is entered.

Field Sobriety Tests
Field Sobriety Tests sometimes referred to by the acronym FSTs, are tests administered by the police to purportedly assess intoxication.

Breathalyzer
Breathalyzer is the trademark (of National Draeger, Inc. which acquired the Breathalyzer division from Smith and Wesson) for the most commonly used breath-testing device in New Jersey. The Breathalyzer converts breath alcohol into a blood alcohol reading.

Failed Sobriety Test
A sobriety test is a method of determining whether a person is intoxicated. Among the common sobriety tests are coordination tests and the use of mechanical devices to measure the blood alcohol content of a person’s breath sample.

Controlled Substances
Health and other public concerns have generated detailed Federal and state regulation of the sale and possession of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and a wide range of other "controlled substances."

Sleep Deprivation
Drowsy driving is greatly under reported because there is no test for it, as there is for intoxication, no clear way to identify it, and many states don't even have a code for it on their vehicle accident reporting forms.

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN)
Horizontal gaze nystagmus is a naturally occurring involuntary jerking of the eyeballs as they gaze side to side. It is theorized that when a person is impaired by alcohol, the nystagmus (the jerking of the eyeballs) is magnified or pronounced.

Public Intoxication
Public intoxication is the appearance of a person who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol in a place open to the general public. In most American jurisdictions, public intoxication is considered a misdemeanor

Boaters Intoxication
Drinking While Boating Open containers are legal, but operators of boats are subject to boating while intoxicated laws, similar to driving a vehicle. Operators or passengers may also be subject to public intoxication laws


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Did You Know?    
 
 
Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (while driving intoxicated)
One state defines this as Class A Felony If any of the following conditions are present: Two or more prior (a) DUI convictions or Vehicular or (b) Vehicular Assault convictions or (c) any combination One prior Vehicular Homicide A BAC of .20 or greater at the time of the vehicular homicide and has one (1) prior DUI or Vehicular Assault offense

 


  Newsroom  
 


News about DUI & Drunk Driving cases in South Carolina and nationwide:

State Dot Promotes Youth Traffic Safety
HONOLULU — With the summer in full swing and the 4th of July holiday weekend approaching, the state Department of Transportation continues to empha...
Read more >


More DUI Drunk Driving News >

 
 

Drunk Driving Terms

 


Today's Terms

Zero Tolerance Policy

Definition:
Prohibition of drinking for those under the age of 21

Reasonable suspicion

Definition:
The officer must have what is legally termed a "reasonable suspicion," based on something unusual that is actually observed about the way a person is driving. This is a very low standard and it can be satisfied by virtually anything which appears out of the ordinary and that might be a sign of a driver being under the influence. In addition, during holiday seasons, police officers typically set up field sobriety checkpoints where they routinely stop every driver who passes through the checkpoint.

OUI

Definition:
OUI is operating or attempting to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants. "Intoxicants" are any substance, including alcohol and both illegal and prescription drugs. A person is "under the influence" if their mental or physical faculties are impaired to the slightest degree, regardless of whether it affects the a actual operation of the vehicle.

More DUI Attorney.com Terms >

 

DUI/DWI Resources

 


Search Drunk Driving resources in our resource center:

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DUI/DWI Hot Topics

 
Topics Related to DUI/DWI:

  • Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
  • Breathalyzer Test
  • Failed Sobriety Test
  • Legal State BAC Limits

More DUI/DWI Topics >

South Carolina Drunk-Driving Attorney

 
If you live in the following cities and need legal help you should contact our Attorney as soon as possible:

  • Abbeville
  • Aiken
  • Anderson
  • Beaufort
  • Belton
  • Bennettsville
  • Bluffton
  • Camden
  • Charleston
  • Chester
  • Clemson
  • Clover
  • Columbia
  • Conway
  • Darlington
  • Dillon
  • Easley
  • Elgin
  • Florence
  • Fort Mill
  • Fountain Inn
  • Gaffney
  • Gaston
  • Georgetown
  • Goose Creek
  • Greenville
  • Greenwood
  • Greer
  • Hartsville
  • Hilton Head Island
  • Inman
  • Irmo
  • Ladson
  • Lancaster
  • Laurens
  • Lexington
  • Marion
  • Moncks Corner
  • Mount Pleasant
  • Murrells Inlet
  • Myrtle Beach
  • Newberry
  • North Augusta
  • North Charleston
  • Orangeburg
  • Pickens
  • Piedmont
  • Rock Hill
  • Seneca
  • Simpsonville
  • Spartanburg
  • Summerville
  • Sumter
  • Taylors
  • Travelers Rest
  • Union
  • Walterboro
  • West Columbia
  • York
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