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	Did You Know?
	Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (while driving intoxicated) One state defines this as Class A Felony If any of the following conditions are present: Two or more prior (a) DUI convictions or Vehicular or (b) Vehicular Assault convictions or (c) any combination One prior Vehicular Homicide A BAC of .20 or greater at the time of the vehicular homicide and has one (1) prior DUI or Vehicular Assault offense

Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, or "drunk driving," in Vermont is by far the most commonly encountered offense in the courts today. In 2002, it is estimated that nearly 17,500 people were killed in automobile collisions involving alcohol. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this represents 41 percent of the 42,815 people killed in all traffic accidents and crashes that year.

	Vermont Drunk Driving BAC Related Deaths
	Motor Vehicle Fatalities Involving High Blood Alcohol Concentration in Vermont Total fatalities 1995 106 Fatalities involving high blood alcohol 33 Percent 31 Total fatalities 2000 79 Fatalities involving high blood alcohol 27 Percent 34 Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Traffic Safety Facts 2000:

Defending against a charge of drunk driving in Vermont is tricky business. A Vermont DUI defense attorney needs to understand scientific and medical concepts, and must be able to question tough witnesses including scientists and police officers.

If you want to fight your drinking and driving charge in Vermont, you're well advised to hire an attorney who specializes in these types of cases. They may be able to get you off the hook, or lessen the fine or punishment imposed.

The laws concerning "drunk driving" have changed radically over recent years. A person arrested today for driving under the influence of alcohol ("DUI", also referred to as "DWI" or driving while intoxicated) faces complicated criminal procedures and a potentially devastating punishment that can be more severe than a penalty handed down in a felony case.

An experienced attorney who specializes in blood alcohol analysis and drunk driving cases can effectively handle criminal and administrative proceedings. It is an unfortunate fact, however, that many general practitioners or general criminal attorneys attempt to represent clients with little or no training or experience in this very complex field and the results are disastrous.

Drunk Driving Punishments

The punishment in drunk driving cases is set forth by state statute and can be incredibly complex. The basic statute determines the range of possible sentences, with modifications for such things as:

• Having a prior conviction within seven years
• Speeding 20 mph over the limit
• Having a child under 14 in the car
• Having a blood alcohol content reading over .20%
• Refusing to submit to chemical testing

Within the range, the actual sentence in a drunk driving case will be affected by:

• The facts of the case
• Any policies of the local court and prosecutors
• The weaknesses in the case uncovered by the defense attorney
• The reputation of that attorney
• All of this is independent of a DMV suspension, which is determined separately and which can be very complicated.

Contact a DUI Lawyer in Vermont now!

Vermont Audio & Video         DUI Not Grounds for Deportation, High Court Rules Audio, RM, 44 Kbps, 3:33, 11/9/2004 The Supreme Court rules that driving under the influence is not a crime of violence that can occasion deportation, finding unanimously that the law requires that the defendant showed intent to injure. Source: National Public Radio

Vermont External Sites         To Combat Drunk Driving And Underage Drinking, Leahy He "Vermont can now deploy a rapid response unit to get drunk drivers off the road and ... to the problem of underage drinking and drunk driving in Leahy Commemorates National Crime Victims' Rights W CONTACT: Office of Senator Leahy, 202-224-4242. VERMONT ... Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Mary Lou Leary National Center for Victims of Crime. Dan L