| There are many new laws that have recently been | | | | Similarly, courses such as AA or comparable programs |
| passed by various states (and the Federal | | | | become mandatory in some states after even one |
| government) that govern what happens to those | | | | drunk driving incident. Some courts will allow the |
| who are convicted of drunk driving. Drinking and | | | | successful completion of these courses to count as |
| driving is a serious crime in most states, and multiple | | | | adequate punishment for the crime, and will then |
| convictions normally result in harsher penalties each | | | | remove it from the defendant's criminal background |
| time. Now, in order to curb drunk driving, states are | | | | completely (much like a First Offender Act crime). |
| resorting to stricter punishments for even one drunk | | | | For those who choose something like community |
| driving conviction. | | | | service and/or rehabilitation courses, the degree of |
| For example, the state of California allows convictions | | | | punishment is no less severe under new laws. Hours |
| for drunk driving to be counted under their Three | | | | or courses can be significantly longer and harder, and |
| Strikes laws. Someone with three strikes could see a | | | | most new community service jobs are physically |
| much longer prison term than they would normally | | | | taxing. However, they are often preferable to being |
| see under the old laws. This includes as much as | | | | forced to spend weekends or entire weeks in a jail |
| lifetime imprisonment terms for drinking and driving | | | | cell. |
| time after time. | | | | Finally, the laws have also changed regarding drunk |
| Other states use certain devices to steer people | | | | driving as a probation violation. Instead of a similar |
| away from wanting to drink and drive. Ignition | | | | legal limit to that of someone who has never been |
| interlock devices are among the most widespread | | | | convicted of a crime, those still on probation often |
| ways of preventing drunk driving, as they require a | | | | have much lower legal limits (if they are given license |
| driver to pass a breathalyzer test before the car will | | | | to consume alcohol at all). This zero tolerance policy |
| even crank. In addition, the owner of the car has to | | | | is, again, designed to decrease the number of |
| pay for the machine to be installed, and it can be | | | | incidents in the United States each year. |
| somewhat expensive in some areas, especially if the | | | | This information is provided solely for informational |
| owner has to travel to a larger city to find a qualified | | | | purposes and does not constitute legal advice. |
| mechanic. | | | | |