Being Under the Influence can be Deadly

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) are both known to be dangerous and illegal. However walking while impaired by alcohol can be just as dangerous, even deadly.

Alcohol impairs your judgment and physical abilities including walking. Everything you might do like driving a car, walking down the street or just walking to the bathroom in your own house is comprised when under the influence.

It is estimated that up to 25% of pedestrians who have been struck by automobiles had a level of alcohol in their system. Some even had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit of .08 which is the measurement for drunk driving.

So the message is, alcohol impairs your physical abilities as well as your mental abilities, so be careful even when walking if you’ve had too much to drink.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Laura’s Law Increases Jail Time and Fines in North Carolina

DWI offenders convicted for a third time in North Carolina will now face more jail time and increased fines. Laura’s Law went into effect in December 2011 and it increases the minimum jail time from 14 days to 120 days, and the maximum jail time was also increased. Maximum fines were increased up to $10,000.

Laura’s Law is named for Laura Fontenberry, a seventeen year-old who was killed by a drunk driver in Gaston County, North Carolina late last year. The driver who killed Laura had three prior convictions for drunk driving.

The new law also calls for stricter supervision while repeat offenders are on probation and they are also subject to alcohol monitoring for 120 days.

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Have you had a DUI or other driving offense that required SR22 and/or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Drunk Driving in TX Means Harsher Penalties

If you’re convicted for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in Texas you face new, tougher laws and the penalties could be severe. A drunk driving conviction with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or more is considered a Class A misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000 even for a first time offense.

In addition, another new law called the Abdallah Khader Act, which is named after a young boy who was left in a vegetative state after being involved in an accident with a drunk driver, punishes those who severely injure someone while intoxicated. The Khader Act upgrades intoxicated assault that causes a traumatic brain injury to a Second Degree Felony which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Law enforcement agencies at the local, county and state levels are increasing patrols to look for drunk drivers. Don’t become a statistic, use a designated driver or stay home when drinking.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

MADD awards 5 Star Ratings for Ignition Interlock Device Laws

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has awarded their 5 Star Rating Award to the states of Illinois, Kansas, Arizona, Utah and Nebraska.

The 5 Star Rating is based on laws requiring ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, for operating sobriety checkpoints, for escalating penalties for driving under the influence with children in the vehicle, for using “no refusal” methods of apprehending suspected drunk drivers and for revoking the driver’s license through administrative processes.

Ignition interlock devices, which measure the amount of alcohol in the driver’s breath, will not allow a driver to even start his car if the device detects an unlawful amount of alcohol in the breath. In the state of Illinois for example, there are over 12,000 ignition interlock devices in use, and officials in the state attribute the decrease in the number of alcohol related traffic deaths over the past two years to this device.

Ignition interlock devices do not cost the state taxpayers anything because the offender must pay the installation and monthly fees for the interlock device. This additional cost is also seen by the state as a deterrent for future drunk driving.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Stricter DUI Law in OK Goes into Effect

A tougher DUI law has gone into effect in the state of Oklahoma. Anyone who blows a .15 BAC on their first DUI must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for 18 months. For a second offense they will have to have the interlock device installed for 4 years if they blow a .08 or higher.

An interlock device measures the amount of alcohol in the driver’s breath. The driver has to blow into the device before he can start the car, and then periodically while driving. State governments are hoping that this additional measure will deter drivers from driving after drinking. The devices are expensive and must be paid for by the offender.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Law Enforcement in AZ Increase DUI Emphasis Patrols

Law enforcement agencies in Arizona are ramping up their DUI patrols for the holiday season. Drivers need to take basic steps to drive safe and keep from being arrested for a DUI in Arizona.

Using a designated driver is the most logical step to take when attending family or company holiday parties. Find one of your family or friends who will commit to not drink during the event and get you all home safely.

Another way to keep from having a problem with the law is to either arrange to stay at the home of the party host, or use a taxi-cab to get you back home. There is no need to risk getting caught after consuming alcohol at a party, no matter how much.

Drivers who get arrested for a DUI in Arizona can go to jail for up to 10 days, and face several thousand dollars in fines, plus lose their driver’s license. In addition, an interlock device can be required once the driver’s license has been reinstated and that is very expensive.

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Have you had a DUI or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

DUI Emphasis Patrols in WA

Fall and early winter see an increase in the number of DUI accidents and arrests. Some of this is caused by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend followed by the Christmas holiday whether it falls on a weekend or not. Both of these holidays see increased driving for vacation or to see family and friends. Of course there is then an increase in the amount of alcohol consumed while enjoying these holiday breaks and too many people decide to drive home before the alcohol has worn off. There’s also an increase at this time of year due to snow sports and while at the ski facility, there is some amount of drinking that can impair the driver when he decides to go home after a day on the hill.

Washington State is going to have multiple law enforcement agencies joining forces during this period to have more patrols visible on the roads and freeways looking for drunk or impaired drivers. These emphasis patrols are going to be in effect from Thanksgiving and on in to January. You can expect to see more arrests for DUI as these patrols look specifically for drivers under the influence.

Also in Washington State, there has been a new law passed by the legislature that allows the law enforcement agency to impound the car of a drunk driver when arrested. This adds additional costs for the impoundment along with the ticket and fines for the DUI.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Cheap SR22 Insurance in MI

MI SR22 Requirements
In Michigan driving under the influence is called an OWI, Operating While Intoxicated. Some still call it a DUI or DWI but the legal term is Operating While Intoxicated (OWI). There is also a violation called Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI).

OWVI means that it was clear to the law enforcement officer that you were unable to operate a vehicle. There is no minimum blood alcohol level to qualify for this charge.

An OWI is more precise and serious because a blood alcohol level of .08 is the measurement to prove that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Penalties for a first-time OWI and OWVI are slightly different. The penalties for an OWI are as follows:

• Up to 93 days in jail
• Fine from $100 to $500
• $1,000 Driver Responsibility Fee paid to the Secretary of State for 2 years
• License suspension up to 6 months
• 6 points are added to your license

Other possibilities for an OWI are:

• Community service for up to 360 hours
• Installation of an interlock device
• Vehicle immobilization

Penalties for a first time conviction for an OWVI are slightly different:

• $300 fine
• 93 days in jail
• $500 Driver Responsibility Fee paid to the Secretary of State for 2 years
• 360 hours of community service
• 90 days of driving restriction
• 4 points added to your license

Subsequent DUI convictions cause the penalties to increase. An SR-22 filing may be required by the state to prove that you have the proper insurance coverage.

In Michigan if you refuse to take a breath test to determine your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and are later convicted of an OWI, then your driver’s license will be suspended for up to 1 year.

The minimum required residual liability for a Michigan car insurance policy is as follows:

• $20,000 for injury to a person
• $40,000 per accident if several people are injured
• $10,000 for property damage

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The information contained in the above article is intended as informational and does not constitute legal or insurance advice.  Insurance requirements in the state of Michigan are subject to change.  Visit the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth at http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-10555—,00.html for insurance information or the Michigan Department of State for motor vehicle information at http://www.michigan.gov/sos for current information.

Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

“24/7″ Sobriety Program for Driving Drunk in MT

A new law went into effect in Montana on Saturday, October 1, which cracks down on repeat drunk drivers. The new “24/7 Sobriety Program” was highly endorsed by the legislature and the attorney-general’s office earlier in the year.

The 24/7 Program requires repeat DUI offenders to take a breath test twice each day at their expense. This testing is required from the time of their arrest until their sentence is completed.

During the pilot project the program proved to be very successful in keeping repeat offenders sober and it didn’t cost the taxpayers anything because the offender had to pay for their own tests.

The program has started in five counties and will continue to be implemented across the state in the months ahead.

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Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.

Cheap SR22 Insurance in AR

AR SR22 Requirements
A conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense in Arkansas. Being intoxicated in Arkansas means being influenced or affected by alcohol or other controlled substances. In the state of Arkansas it is illegal to drive a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. It is illegal for a minor to have a BAC of .02 or higher. Penalties for a first-time drunk driving conviction are as follows:

• 24 hours to 1 year in jail
• 7 days to 1 year of community service if a minor under the age of 16 in vehicle
• A fine from $150 to $1,000
• License suspension up to 6 months
• An ignition interlock device may be required
• Alcohol Education or Alcohol Treatment are possible
• Attend a victim impact panel

Subsequent DUI convictions cause the penalties to increase.

Arkansas has an implied consent law which means that you have given your consent to be tested to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood, breath or urine if stopped by an officer and he suspects that you are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you refuse to take the test your license will be suspended for 180 days.

An Arkansas car insurance policy has minimum required liability insurance coverage as follows:

• $25,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per person
• $50,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per accident
• $25,000 for Property Damage Liability for property damage

The Arkansas DMV will require proof of financial responsibility in the form of SR-22 insurance because of a violation or an accumulation of violations, such as reckless driving, driving under the influence (DUI) or (DWI), or for a refusal to test or for driving without insurance.

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The information contained in the above article is intended as informational and does not constitute legal or insurance advice.  Insurance requirements in the state of Arkansas are subject to change.  Visit the Arkansas Insurance Department at http://www.insurance.arkansas.gov/ or the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Motor Vehicles at http://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/motorVehicle/Pages/default.aspx for current information.

Have you had a DUI, DWI, or other driving offense that required form SR 22 insurance filing or are you getting car insurance for the first time? Serenity Insurance can help – we offer car insurance in 47 states for both preferred and high risk drivers. Call us toll free today at 1-800-774-0520 or use our car insurance quote form.