Recently in Understanding DUI / Research Category

A Cook County man was arrested for a DUI after allegedly driving erratically, smelling of alcohol at the traffic stop, and failing a field sobriety test. Yet, a court found that there was no basis to make the arrest and ordered that the DUI defendant have his driving privileges restored.

Sounds strange doesn't it? Well, maybe if we told you that the DUI defendant is veteran Cook County judge James Gavin that would clear up why the DUI defendant received the relatively lenient treatment.

A DUI is probably the one crime that most of us are capable of committing. After all, it's far from likely that you will commit armed robbery. But have a few too many drinks at the office party, and then decide to take the short drive home, and all of a sudden you are arrested for a DUI.

The DUI process is very similar to any other crime. DUI cases follow a specific set of stages, and the following provides a brief overview of what to expect at each stage of a DUI case:

Although some Chicago parents may believe that allowing their teens to drink alcohol while under adult supervision might teach their children how to drink responsibly, a study conducted by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs revealed that this kind of setting might actually cause more harm than good.

Barbara J. McMorris, the lead investigator of the study at Minneapolis' School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, explained that many parents face a difficult choice between letting their children drink under their supervision and allowing them to go out while risking the chance their teen may drink in an unsupervised setting.

About 43 percent of all road fatalities that occurred on May 5 overnight and early the following day between 2002 and 2006 were a result of drunk driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With thousands of people celebrating Cinco de Mayo, law enforcement officials are reminding Chicago motorists to designate a sober driver before taking part in any festivities.

To encourage residents to select a designated driver this Cinco de Mayo, the TribLocal reported federal, state, and local police officers are working together with NHTSA to promote the campaign Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. Chicago Police will also perform a Roadside Safety Check at the Grand District on W. North Avenue on May 6 and 7 to check for people who may be drunk driving.

In acknowledging April as National Alcohol Awareness Month, Beer Institute President Joe McClain has highlighted the commitment and long-term efforts many importers and brewers have made to help battle drunk driving and underage drinking.

According to PR Newswire, the beer industry has invested considerably in various campaigns and programs promoting alcohol prevention and education and public safety in Chicago and across the country, such as:

• One Million Strong, established in 2010 by MillerCoors. It encourages consumers to plan a safe ride home through the Miller Lite Free Rides program or make a pledge to be a responsible drinker on GreatBeerGreatResponsibility.com, which already has 423,018 pledges.

Almost 32 percent of car fatalities in the United States in 2009 involved alcohol and led to nearly 10,839 deaths, based on a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That same year, it was also found that an average of one death caused by drunk driving happened every 48 minutes.

But while many Chicago residents recognize that impaired driving is dangerous, few may be aware of the actual financial costs of a DUI conviction. MSN Money reports that the expenses for a typical DUI- where no one was injured- could total at least an average of $10,000 after paying for bail, related fines and fees, and insurance.

A group of U.S. senators has asked Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of BlackBerry phones, Google, and Apple to remove certain mobile applications from their online stores that help users locate and avoid DUI checkpoints, according to CNN.

While many Chicago locals and drivers across the country may consider such smartphone apps incredibly useful, four lawmakers have argued that the aforementioned cell phone manufacturers have just provided drunk drivers with “a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk.”

As some Chicago locals may have discovered, choosing a friend as designated driver when you decide to drink and want to avoid a DUI or any other hazard of drinking and driving, may not always work out. What if the person decides to guzzle one or more drinks expecting to be fine to drive? What if you can't take a taxi, because there are none around or it's too expensive?

How will you get home safely?

Fortunately, a new designated driver service called Be My Designated Driver, (BeMyDD) provides an alternative for drunk drivers to stay off the road, according to Family Car Guide. Its operation is similar to having a chauffeur driving a group of people in a limousine, which is often limited to taking a party to and from special events such as a prom or a wedding.

With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, many Chicago locals may be celebrating Irish-based festivities with family and friends. But sometimes these celebrations can turn out to be dangerous as more drunk drivers are found on the road, risking the safety of many St. Patrick’s Day enthusiasts.

To help minimize the number of impaired drivers and DUI-related car accidents through the week, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reported that it would be working with Illinois State Police (ISP) and over 150 local police agencies during the upcoming holiday weekend.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), sobriety checkpoints are often set up nationwide as part of a comprehensive enforcement plan that focuses on discouraging impaired driving. However, not all states perform these roadside safety checks. Some states (like Idaho) consider DUI checkpoints illegal by law or the state’s constitution, while others (like Alaska) do not have any authority to conduct them.

The GHSA website provides more information about DUI checkpoint laws in each state and how often these safety checks are carried out throughout the year. For instance, the GHSA revealed that Illinois conducts several hundred sobriety checkpoints every year.