How Can I Avoid a Drunk Driver?
Reader’s Question:
I was told that there are a lot of people who are driving drunk here in Anchorage, Alaska especially at night. How would I spot a drunk driver and respond appropriately?
Dana
Anchorage, AK
According to the findings of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic accidents are the largest single cause of death for people aged five to 27, and almost 50% of these accidents are alcohol-related so it’s good to be vigilant while driving in Anchorage, Alaska especially at night. You have to watch out for cars that make wide turns or zigzag across lanes. be careful of other erratic driving such as delayed responses to traffic signals and rapid braking and accelerating. You also have to be alert to motorists who move in a straight line at an angle to the direction of the road or those who swerve dangerously close to the curb or to objects along the road.
You can look for vehicles that drive in two lanes at once or along the dividing line, or those that drive on the wrong side of or even off the road. You have to watch out for vehicles driving with headlights off at night, those that drive 10 mph or more below the speed limit or that follow you or others too closely. Also, beware of motorists whose signals are inconsistent with their actions. If you spot a drunk driver, stay clear out of that vehicle. You can take note of the plate number and vehicle description then call the police at 911 and report your location, the vehicle’s direction of travel and the driver’s behavior and let the authorities handle the situation.
Tags: DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer
DUI Penalties In Alaska
Reader’s Question:
I was almost arrested for DUI here in Anchorage, Alaska. I am wondering, what are the possible penalties in terms of DUI law violations?
Jerry
Anchorage, AK
Like almost all states in the US impose a harsher penalty especially on drunk driving or driving under the influence of either alcohol or substance. Here in Anchorage, Alaska, the government had been very keen in implementing DUI laws to prevent road accidents. If a person gets arrested for DUI, he will be subject to additional criminal law penalties such as jail time, fines and community service. The worst would be suspension and even revocation of his driver’s license. Suspension of driver’s license can go from a minimum of 90 days up to a maximum of 3 years based on the gravity of the offense as well as the frequency. There is also a great possibility that your vehicle may get confiscated or having an ignition interlock device. Vehicle ignition interlock is a breath-testing device which measures a vehicle operator’s BAC, prevents operation of the vehicle if more than a minimal amount of alcohol is detected (BAC level of .02). DUI offenders are usually required to pay the costs of installation, rental, and maintenance of an ignition interlock device.
These are at least the most common penalties that are being imposed on DUI offenders in Alaska. Just the same, in case you get involved in such DUI cases, I suggest that you seek the counsel of a knowledgeable lawyer that could defend you during proceedings. I also recommend checking for possible affordable auto insurance that caters pre or post DUI cases.
DUI Charge Caused Your Auto Insurance Rate To Increase?
Reader’s Question:
My dad has an auto insurance policy in affect, but after his DUI charge will it affect his annual premium?
Jane
Anchorage, AK
If your dad is currently enrolled in an auto insurance and had that policy in effect, then you don’t have to worry for now. Most insurance companies, especially in Alaska where driving and road regulations are stricter, may do random driving records check. If they find out that their member got arrested or convicted with a DUI, they would either not renew your dad’s contract upon policy expiration or increase premium rates and deductibles. There are several High Risk companies that may take you. These are what we call non-standard companies and usually offer triple increase on premium rates as well as deductibles.
If he is currently enrolled in a preferred insurance company, tell him to sit tight and try to avoid such DUI cases and don’t make any waves. He should keep his premium payments on time and do not let it be canceled. He can check other insurance companies that are not High risk that can offer him better rates for better coverage. But beware that there may be insurance companies that writes new policies that needs to order his driving record and find out about previous driving tickets and DUI cases if there’s any. This may create a huge impact on the cost of the policy. He can check through this web site for available post DUI insurance policies.
DUI Law Highlights In Anchorage Alaska AK
Reader’s Question:
I am doing a research for drunk driving laws here in Anchorage, Alaska as part of my DUI school program, what are the law highlights of DUI laws in this city?
Sarah
Anchorage, AK
Local state laws in Anchorage, Alaska have been stricter than ever. But to give due credits, these harsh policies keeps our roads a safe place for every Alaskans. Major highlights on Alaska DUI laws include a “per se “ Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of .08 as of August 25 of 2005. This means that any person found to have at least .08 or more blood-alcohol concentration is already an intoxication in the eyes of the law. This automatically means that there would be no additional proof on driving impairment is required to determine DUI violation. Now if the driver is under the legal drinking age of 21, Alaska implements a Zero Tolerance BAC level and should be at 0.00. That means, the driver should not have any trace of alcohol in the body.
Many states like Alaska impose stricter penalties for DUI offenders with a high BAC at the time of the offense, about 0 .15 to 0.20 percent. DUI offenders with a BAC at or above their state’s penalty standards will likely look up for a longer jail time, higher fines, and more driver’s license sanctions.
Whereas in most cases, people who are found guilty of DUI suffer severe consequences involving their driving privileges. It really helps a lot that we know what constitutes these laws so that every driver in Alaska can have second thoughts on driving under the influence. Having said so, I suggest that a good and reliable auto insurance can be of no additional cost should you keep a DUI free record. Affordable insurance quotations are available on this website.
Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI lawyer
Signing Up For DUI Class in Alaska?
Reader’s Question:
I need to attend DUI class after I was charged with DUI here in Alaska, how do I sign up for that?
Miranda
Anchorage, AK
Just as with any other traffic violations, a DUI charge often end with the accused having to attend DUI class. A DUI School is more likely to be a relatively small part of the sentence for a DUI conviction since you could also face stiff fines, and even serving time in jail. But attending DUI class is a deterrent to future convictions. Before you sign up for DUI class because of your DUI charge in Anchorage, Alaska, you have to find out from the court first and verify with your DUI lawyer exactly what type of DUI class you should attend. The length of time could vary and you should not choose a class that doesn’t satisfy the court.
You can go online to help you find DUI schools near you, and I’m sure you’ll have several options. You can also use other resources online for finding the right DUI School. You might want to use nonprofit or government-run websites for unbiased information. For instance, the local Department of Motor Vehicles office is a public entity and will give you a more complete list of options. While finding the right DUI School, you might also want to find the right car insurance for you so go on and get a free quote from this website.
Auto Insurance Cancellation Because Of DWI Conviction?
Reader’s Question:
What does it mean when you say “binding period” in an auto insurance policy? My sister seems to worry too much because she said that her auto insurance can be canceled because of her DWI charge here in Anchorage, Alaska especially that she’s still within the binding period.
Vince
Anchorage, AK
Your sister has all the reasons why she has to worry about her auto insurance. Every one of us does not want to hear that our policy has already been canceled. Finding that our auto insurance company has decided to cancel out our auto insurance policy is no picnic. Having a cancellation of auto insurance policy can have an inconvenient insurance future.
Any auto insurance company has the right to cancel your sister’s auto insurance policy at any time and for any reason during the “binding period.” The “binding period” would be the time frame after her application in which the auto insurance company determines her risk and this is typically 60 days. If an auto insurance company cancels your sister’s policy, that could mean that it has found a blemish on either her driving record or credit record that makes you an unacceptable risk. In her case now, that would be because of her DWI charge in Anchorage, Alaska. But she can still be able to get a better deal for her auto insurance. You can advise her to check out her options and tell her she can get an online rate quote from this website.
Help I Have Been Charged With Drunk Driving in Alaska
Reader’s Question:
I know that I can be charged with DWI if I am drunk driving with a blood alcohol level of .08%. But is it true that I can also be charged with DWI if my blood alcohol is lower than that? If so, how can a DWI case be prosecuted and in case I am charged with DWI, what’s the first thing that I would have to do?
Jair
Anchorage, AK
Yes, it is true, Jair, you can be charged with DWI if you are caught drunk driving in Anchorage, Alaska with a blood alcohol content (BAC) even below 0.08%. There are two theories of DWI cases in the state of Alaska that a person can be prosecuted with. The first one would be the violation of the “per se” law by driving with a BAC of .08% or higher and the other one is by driving while impaired. For the purposes of Alaska’s DWI laws, impairment could be proved by field sobriety test performance, chemical test results and driving patterns.
If in case you are charged with DWI, the very first thing that you would have to do is to hire a skilled DWI defense lawyer. This kind of lawyer would know how to deal with each type of evidence in a drunk driving case in the state of Alaska. An experienced DWI defense lawyer could walk you through and help you in every stage of your DWI case. Moreover, he/she could go with you and defend you not just on your DWI trial in court, but he/she could also represent you in your administrative case with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Auto Insurance With DUI in Alaska
Reader’s Question:
I would to know if my auto insurance rate will rise if I add my father which has a DUI conviction? We live in the same house.
Dan
Anchorage, AK
It is possible that your car insurance rates in Anchorage, Alaska may go up after you add your father to your car insurance policy. Even considering the fact that each of you have your own auto insurance policy, the insurance carrier will take into account all of the drivers/motorist , so in this case, you and your father, and their individual driving record on these car insurance policies separately. Most insurance carriers base the auto insurance rates on the driver who develops the highest car insurance rate premium. Usually this is the younger drivers. Since your father has a serious offense and that might cause your car insurance premiums to go up as a result.
You may speak with your insurance carrier to know for certain how much the increase will be if you add your father with a DUI in your car insurance policy.
DWI Arrest – Do I Have To Take The Breath Test in Alaska?
Reader’s Question:
I haven’t been arrested for DWI in Alaska because even though I drive after having some alcohol, I take a lot of care in driving. But in case I get stopped, do I have to take a breath test or any other chemical test or doing so will be a mistake?
Lane
Anchorage, AK
The answer to both your questions would be “yes” and “no,” depending on the circumstances. Unless there is an accident, the police officer could not force you to submit to a breath, blood or urine test. But the State of Alaska has an “implied consent law” which states that as a condition of being given the privilege to drive in the State or upon obtaining your driver’s license, you are required to take a chemical test if there is a reasonable belief that you are violating the alcohols laws.
Thus, if you refuse to take any chemical test if you get arrested for DWI in Alaska, you will generally lose your driving privileges for one year. The prosecutor would have to prove the DWI case without the use of any chemical evidence. This obviously would be an advantage for you as a defendant. But you would be faced with the probable loss of your driving privileges for one year.
Appeal For A DWI Charge In Alaska?
Reader’s Question:
My friend has been found guilty and was sentenced for DWI in Alaska. How many days does he have to appeal his conviction and who will hear it?
Reggie
Anchorage, AK
Your friend has twenty days to appeal his DWI conviction in Alaska to a higher court. His appeal will be heard by one Superior Court Judge who will rule in the DWI charge by reviewing the Trial Transcripts and written evidence presented to the lower court and at this point, no new evidence is presented. The court could not impose a more severe sentence than that imposed by the Municipal Court Judge. If your friend will be convicted again, he has forty five days to appeal to the Appellate Division which is a multi-Judge panel.
Once your friend has already filed an appeal, the process will begin for a formal change to the judge’s official decision. At this point, the Superior Court Judge will examine the record of evidence presented in the trial court and the law that the lower court applied and decides whether that decision was legally sound or not. The higher court would normally be deferential to the lower court’s findings of fact, unless clearly erroneous, and so would focus on the court’s application of the law to those facts.