Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) is one of the major causes of road accidents in Boise, Idaho. According to statistics, 28 people in America lose their lives in drunk driving accidents every day. Even when you don’t cause a crash, DUI is a criminal offense. So, if you’re arrested for DUI, you’ll need help from an experienced Boise DUI attorney.
However, it’s much better to avoid a drunk driving charge than to try to defend one. Sometimes, your DUI case can be so complicated that only the most dedicated and smart lawyers can successfully defend you. Apart from that, trying to defend a criminal charge can harm your psychological or mental health.
So, what factors contribute to a DUI charge, and how can you avoid them? Is it possible you have no control over your DUI traits, say, because you inherited them from your parents? We’ll provide answers to those questions in this article.
What Factors Increase My Risks of Driving Under the Influence?
The following factors may increase your risks of drunk driving:
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Age
Generally, young people and teenagers are highly likely to engage in drunk driving. In fact, according to the CDC, one in ten high school teenagers drinks and drives. It’s still an alarming figure even though the number of teenage drunk drivers has significantly decreased since 1991.
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Repeat Offenders
Repeat offenders have a high chance of drunk driving again and again. About 1/3rds of all drunk driving arrestees or convicts are repeat offenders. This category of offenders is also at higher risk of severe road accidents than other drivers.
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Gender
Generally, there is a higher risk of drunk or drugged male drivers than females. This may be related to the fact that there are more reported male drinkers than females around the same age.
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Alcohol Concentration
In Idaho, you’re legally drunk if your blood alcohol level is at 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 percent, or more. It all depends on whether you’re under 21, a commercial driver, or a non-commercial motorist. That means that your blood alcohol content determines if you’re a drunk driver in Idaho. As such, the quality of alcohol you consume before driving can increase your risk of driving under the influence.
Is Alcoholism Hereditary?
DUI in itself isn’t hereditary. As such, even if you have parents who were repeat offenders, you can decide not to drive under the influence. However, some addictive traits that may put you at risk of DUI may be genetic.
As we discussed above, one-third of drunk driving arrests and convictions involve repeat offenders. Since a DUI offender is highly likely to repeat the offense, it shows a relationship between DUI and alcohol addiction. According to a report, “alcoholism is a complex genetic disease, with variations in a large number of genes affecting risk.”
Apart from alcoholism, there are other ways a parent’s drunk driving may influence a child’s risk of drunk driving. For example, you may learn to drink and drive merely by seeing your parents do so. In addition, a toxic upbringing or environment can trigger behavioral and emotional disorders that may trigger drunk driving habits.
How Do I Prevent Drunk Driving?
There are many ways in which you may avoid alcoholism or drunk driving. We’ve narrowed them down to two tips:
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Abstinence
The best and most effective method of preventing drunk driving is abstinence. However, if you choose to avoid alcohol completely, it’s impossible to drive under the influence.
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Responsible Behaviors
If you can’t practice abstinence, you can still prevent drunk driving by drinking responsibly. For example, you can designate a non-drinking driver to transport you whenever you plan to drink or take public transport. Responsible behavior may also involve seeing a therapist if you have a drinking problem.
Our Boise DUI Defense Lawyers Are Here for You!
If you think you have a drinking problem with genetics being a contributory factor, it means you need help. Of course, it’s always better to prevent a DUI charge than to defend one. However, facing a DUI charge isn’t the end of the world. With the right defense lawyer, you can make a good case.
At Trilogy Law Group, we can help you out of your DUI charge regardless of your case’s specifics. Our Boise DUI attorneys will assess your case and find the loopholes to exploit in them. At our law firm, we don’t believe that any case is impossible to handle. So, schedule an appointment for a case review with one of our Boise DUI lawyers today.