If You Feel Different, You Drive Different: Drive High, Get A DUI

Holidays like Labor Day are particularly dangerous for encountering impaired drivers.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 33% of the traffic fatalities that occurred over the 2015 Labor Day weekend involved drunk drivers.  Remember, in the District of Columbia, like all places nationwide, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. But, unlike alcohol, there is no “per se” level for drug impaired driving here in the District.

In the District, it is illegal to operate or to be in physical control of any vehicle while intoxicated or while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two. A drug is defined as any chemical substance that affects the processes of the mind or body, including but not limited to a controlled substance, and any prescription or non-prescription medication. A person is under the influence of a drug when their ability to operate a motor vehicle is impaired in way that can be perceived or noticed. 

Throughout the nation, law enforcement is reporting more and more drug impaired drivers on the road. Drivers who consume illicit drugs, prescription drugs, or even over the counter medication can place themselves and others at risk when getting behind the wheel.  Combining drug usage with alcohol can grossly impair the driver. Data concerning marijuana impaired drivers, for example, shows that the number of drivers killed in crashes who tested positive for marijuana doubled from 2007 to 2015.  

Like every year at the of the summer holiday, NHTSA and the District’s Department of Transportation are urging motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” Recently, the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) attended the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) annual Drugs, Alcohol, and Impaired Driving (DAID) Conference. There, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator Heidi King kicked off the conference by announcing that drug impaired driving is a top agency priority.  NHTSA simultaneously launched its new education and awareness campaign - If You Feel Different, You Drive Different: Drive High, Get A DUI. Simply put, you cannot drive under the influence. That remains true for alcohol, and it holds true for drugs, legal or illicit.

Because impaired driving is completely preventable, please bear in mind several safe driving tips to remind all drivers to follow:

  • Before any celebration, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night. If you wait until you’ve been drinking, you’re more likely to make the wrong decision and drive impaired when you shouldn’t.
  • Always designate a sober driver.
  • If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
  • Be vigilant and if you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
  • If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.

The Office of the Attorney General hopes everyone stays safe and enjoys the last days of summer.

For more information, please contact Assistant Attorney General and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Melissa Shear at Melissa.Shear@dc.gov

Past Blogs

Operation Dry Water: A Reminder to Boat Safely this 4th of July

Operation Dry Water: A Reminder to Boat Safely this 4th of July

As the 4th of July approaches, the Potomac River and surrounding areas will fill with boating enthusiasts eager to tour the District’s popular landmarks, explore the waterfronts, and enjoy local dining destinations. Often, these recreational activities also involve alcohol consumption, which can impair your judgment, reaction time, vision, coordination, and balance. These effects of alcohol combined with the common boating stressors—sun, wind, vibration, and motion—can magnify the effect on your body.

According to the US Coast Guard, alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Where the primary cause was known, it was listed as the leading factor in 19% of deaths. Alcohol is dangerous for passengers, too; intoxication can cause slips, falls over board, and hazardous conditions for the operator.

As the summer’s boating season gets underway, the U.S. Coast Guard will join forces with area law enforcement agencies to patrol the District’s waterways. These agencies will increase enforcement with “Operation Dry Water,” a national and annual enforcement campaign to raise awareness about boating under the influence. This year’s Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend will take place nationwide, June 29-July 1, 2018.

Just like the law penalizes driving under the influence, it is a criminal offense to operate or be in physical control of any watercraft while intoxicated or under the influence. In the District, this means:

  • Intoxication: A person is boating intoxicated or has a blood/breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or a urine alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more. If someone is under the age of 21, any measurable amount of alcohol is considered intoxicated.
  • Under the Influence: A person is boating under the influence if alcohol, any controlled substance, or any combination of alcohol and a controlled substance impairs a person’s ability to operate or be in control of a boat.   

If you are convicted, you could face fines up to $1,000 or 180 days in jail or both. Remember that additional penalties exist for repeat offenders or for those with minors on board at the time.

Enjoy the 4th of July and our local waterways this summer, but always remember to do so safely!

For more information, please contact Assistant Attorney General and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Melissa Shear at Melissa.Shear@dc.gov

Designate a Sober Driver on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day, a traditionally celebratory holiday, has become dangerous due to the number of drunk-driving crashes and fatalities. In general, weekend nights typically have heightened impaired driving occurrences, and with this year’s St. Patrick’s Day holiday falling on a Saturday, the threat to public safety is that much greater.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nationwide, from 2012 to 2016, the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18) saw the loss of 269 lives due to drunk driving crashes. In 2016 alone, 60 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

While the term “drunk driving” is commonly used, bear in mind that even small amounts of alcohol can impair one’s judgment and affect one’s mental faculties and physical coordination.  All of these abilities are essential to operating a vehicle safely.  So, no matter if you are buzzed, tipsy, hammered, impaired, under the influence, drunk, or any other term used, be mindful of the risks posed when choosing to get behind the wheel after drinking. The criminal and civil consequences for making the wrong choice are far too severe.

The Office of the Attorney General encourages everyone who plans to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day to do so safely and to follow these simple tips:

  • Before the festivities begin, plan a way to safely get home at the end of the night. If you wait until you’ve been drinking, you’re more likely to make the wrong decision and drive impaired when you shouldn’t.
  • Always designate a sober driver.
  • If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
  • SoberRide: Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s (WRAP) SoberRide program, powered by the rideshare application Lyft, will be offering free rides home to users 21 years of age or older (up to $15) from 4:00 p.m., Saturday, March 17 until 4:00 a.m., Sunday, March 18. For more information about how to take advantage of this offer, please visit http://www.wrap.org/soberride/index.htm
  • SaferRide: Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, available in the app store. SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or predetermined friend and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.
  • Be vigilant, and if you see an impaired driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
  • If you know someone who is about to drive or ride impaired, take their keys and help them make safe travel arrangements to where they are going.
  • Remember that walking home from the bar can also be dangerous. In 2016, 34 percent of the pedestrians killed in crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.  Ask a sober friend to walk you home or arrange for a sober ride.

For more information, please contact Assistant Attorney General and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Melissa Shear at Melissa.Shear@dc.gov.