History of DUI
Curious about where your state's DUI policy came from? Generally speaking, DUI laws have existed for as long as cars have. But government authorities haven't always had the same view of DUI. For more on the history of DUI, read on!
History of DUI Penalties
The first DUI law was created shortly after the automobile was introduced: however, not till decades later were guidelines introduced to clearly define the level of intoxication considered illegal by law. Originally, this limit was a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent, or almost twice today's legal limit of 0.08 percent.
History of DUI Movements for Stricter Policies
The 1970s saw the first attempts at the state and federal level to institute stricter legal limits to curb the spread of DUI across the United States. Citizen advocate groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drunk Driving lobbied Congress starting in the 1980s to continue these attempts on a larger scale. As a result of pressure from the public, among other things, the legal limit for BAC was lowered to 0.10 percent, and then tightened once again to the current per se BAC level, 0.08%.
History of DUI Special Cases and Policies
Further specifications were added to the general per se limit and impaired driving laws. Commercial drivers have a standard legal limit of half the typical limit, 0.04 percent. Drivers under the legal age of 21 for consumption and purchase of alcohol are typically governed by a zero-tolerance law that either imposes penalties for any amount of alcohol in the system or a BAC of 0.02 percent, depending on the state.
DUI History Resources
Time Running Out on Your DUI Charge? Call a DUI Lawyer Today!
Though penalties have evolved over time, as you can see, modern DUI penalties are serious business. If you or a loved one have been arrested and charged with DUI, don't hesitate to speak to a DUI lawyer through Total DUI by calling our toll-free hotline at 1 (877) 349-1311 or fill out a free, online DUI case review form. Simply enter some details about your DUI arrest or case in our secure online form and we'll connect you directly by telephone to a DUI lawyer in your local area.
