Drunkest in the Nation: Las Vegas Was “Almost on Top” of the DUI List

Almost two years ago, Las Vegas is not too far from the top of the nation’s DUI list. Now, thankfully, it is not even in the top 20. Yet, DUI and other alcohol-related offenses remain a serious problem in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Of course, this should not be surprising as people, including those from other states and other parts of the world, do come to Las Vegas with generally no other thought in mind than to relax, to party, to gamble and to have some adult fun. They drink and drink some more. Fortunately, they no longer drink and drive as much as they used to back in 2010. “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” is the Sin City’s favorite slogan. As a result, many tend to let go of way too much of their inhibitions and end up being in trouble with the Nevada law. Nevada is governed by several DUI-related laws, and if you get pulled over for suspicion of DUI, you can be charged with any of the following: driving with a BAC of .08 or higher, or a BAC of .02 if you are under 21 or you are a commercial driver, which is a violation of a DUI law; driving impaired at any level, which is a violation of an “illegal per se” law; and/or, refusing to submit to a chemical test, which is a violation of an “implied consent” law. Consequently, if you have been arrested, you will be facing two separate processes. One is the criminal legal process where you go to court to enter a plea and answer to the charges against you. The other is the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) hearing, which is an administrative process, where it is determined whether you will lose or not your driving license in a suspension. In this administrative process, if you have been given a breath test at the time of arrest, you have only 7 days from that date to request a hearing or your license will be suspended automatically. If you want to avoid being in the State’s DUI list of offenders, it may be in your best interest to get yourself a good DUI attorney to represent you and help you prepare for both criminal and administrative processes. Clearly the best way to avoid ending up in the DUI list is simply not to drink and drive. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is dangerous for you and for others. Have someone else drive you home or wherever you need to go. The next best thing is to always have on hand the contact number of a good lawyer. In case you do get arrested for DUI, call an experienced DUI Lawyer in Las Vegas as soon as possible for help and advice on what else you should do or not do. For one, he may tell you that you do not have to answer any of the officer’s questions after being pulled over, you do not have to do any of the field sobriety tests, and you do not have to blow into the portable breath testing equipment. By not helping the officer gain probable cause to arrest you, you increase the likelihood that he will just let you go with a warning.