DWI Stop Myths: Trying to Cheat the System

Facing a DWI-related stop, and potential DWI, can be quite frightening. You don’t know if you’re within the legal limit, what your rights are, and if you can do anything to help your case. You’ve likely heard a few little pieces of DWI stop folklore and you might want to try them out now and help your case. However, those folklore’s? Are mostly DWI stop myths. Do any of them work? Ultimately, there’s not too much you can do to cheat a DWI stop, as it’s pretty cut and dry. But, let’s take a look at those DWI stop myths, and we’ll explain to you why it is that they’re unsuccessful.

DWI Stop Myths: Trying to Cheat the System

Cheating a Breath Test 

Possibly the most common of DWI stop myths, many people believe you can cheat a breath test. The myth is that you can cheat the test to produce a lower BAC and therefore, test under the legal limit. For example, people believe you can cheat a breath test by drinking mouth wash. While the mouth wash may mask the smell of alcohol, it may actually worsen your breath test. Many mouth washes have a low amount of alcohol in them, which could actually make your breath results even higher.

In another example, people believe you can suck on pennies to cheat a breath test. However, most breath test devices use an infrared light to measure the drop in intensity in light. Therefore, the copper from the pennies will not be able to throw off the device.

Reducing your drunkeness

Some other DWI stop myths focus on lowering how drunk you’ve become. In short, you want to be able to drink but then remain sober enough to drive. For instance, many people believe drinking strong, black coffee will help sober you up to drive. So after drinking too much, they may drink coffee in hopes of being able to drive home. Another idea like this, is to eat greasy foods after drinking. For instance, many people believe eating a big cheeseburger or slice of pizza will lower their blood alcohol concentration.

In reality, your BAC rises based on how much you drink

Nothing is going to speed up the process of lowering it. You must allow your body time to process the alcohol through your system. In short, most DWI stop myths are just that— myths. Once you drink and drive, you are subject to facing a DWI. While there isn’t much you can do to alter the outcome of the stop, there are things you can do to alter the outcome of your case. So, speak with an attorney about defense options for fighting your DWI.

Beer-Associated Health Benefits: What Can a Pint Do for Me?

We all know that when it comes to alcohol, there can be health risks associated with heavy and long time use. However, we rarely hear about the health benefits that come along with some types of drinking. Are there any health benefits? When it comes to having a pint, there are actually a few beer-associated health benefits. Obviously, moderation is key and a beer won’t replace your salad. But, as they say, the more you know…

Beer-Associated Health Benefits: What Can a Pint Do for Me?

What does the heart say?

According to some studies, moderate amounts of beer may be good for your heart. While this does hold some truth, consuming too much alcohol can increase your risk of heart disease. But, just the right amount may reduce it. As we’ve said, moderation is the key to success. In fact, drinking around seven pints of beer a week appears to reduce your risk of a heart attack or heart failure. In addition, people who follow this regimen tend to display a lower risk of sudden heart-related death.

What about the brain?

Another aspect of beer-associated health benefits is that it can sometimes be good for your brain. Because beer and alcohol thin the blood, it can help prevent the formation of tiny blood clots in the brain. Which in turn, can help prevent a stroke. Like the heart benefits, you must drink moderately, or about 7 beers per week, in order to experience the benefits. But when it comes to heavy drinking, A.K.A. those that have 15 or more drinks per week, actually may experience atrophy and damage to their brain tissue.

Is low-calorie beer more heart-healthy?

Do beer-associated health benefits increase if you stick with low calorie beer? In short, possibly, but the jury is still out. While these are lower in calories, they are also lower in alcohol content. Therefore, people tend to drink more because the effects are less. So, unless you still follow the ‘one-a-day’ regimen with this low-cal option, you might be off-setting the positive effects. In addition, these drinks will not increase heart and brain benefits— rather, they will stay about the same. But, if weight is of concern to you, the lower calories can benefit you in that regard.

We’ll say it one more time: MODERATION IS KEY!!!!!

These health benefits aren’t to say ‘get drunk— it’s great for you!’ Rather, they are to say that too much of a good thing can become counterproductive. So, having a beer with dinner? Go for it. Having five beers with dinner? Not exactly the best idea for your insides.

DWI Types: The Court’s Different Options

When it comes to DWI’s, most people think it’s pretty straight forward. Odds are, you faced some form of DWI testing that resulted in a BAC which was over the legal limit. So now you should go to court, pay the fines and fees, take the necessary classes and it’s over, right? Well, not necessarily. DWI cases can actually be rather complex. In fact, there are different DWI types which can result in different protocol and punishments. So here’s a list of DWI types your case may fall under. That way, you’re prepared for what might occur.

DWI Types: Understanding the Court’s Different Options

Aggravated DWI

One form of DWI cases, is an aggravated DWI. With an aggravated DWI, you’re violating the law in more than one way. Whichever other ways you were breaking the law, those factors become ‘aggravating factors’ in your case.

For example, an aggravating factor may be excessive speed in your DWI case. In the event that you were traveling well over the speed limit, an officer may charge you with excessive speed in addition to your DWI. Furthermore, an aggravated DWI may increase your penalties to a felony.

Felony DWI

In the case of standard DWI’s, you receive a misdemeanor charge. But in some cases, certain factors can raise your DWI to a felony charge. For instance, if someone died as a result of your DWI or if you have prior DWI offenses. As you might assume, a felony charge comes with much harsher penalties.

Commercial DWI

In the event that you are driving for your job, you may face a commercial DWI. For employees who drive buses, trucks, or large vans, most require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CDL drivers hold to different standard for drinking and driving. Since they are driving a large commercial vehicle, the state made legal BAC limit .04% for commercial drivers. For a commercial DWI, you may face a longer license suspension and harsher penalties than a standard DWI.

In general, these DWI types require harsher penalties than standard DWI’s. Since there are normally a number of factors surrounding these cases, there can also be additional fines. For these reasons, you may want to speak with an attorney to discuss the facts and see what they can do to help your case.