Top 5 Surprising DUI Facts

Posted on December 3, 2015
  • DUI

    • 1. Men Are Roughly Twice As Likely to Be Arrested for DUI

    In 2011 (the most recent year for which data is available), more than three times as many men were arrested for DUI as women. Despite the major disparity in numbers, this actually showed a drop in male DUI arrests since 2002 and an increase in female arrests by nearly 6%.

    2. Approximately 1/4th of DUI Arrests Are Repeat Offenders

    While this varies dramatically from state to state, an average of 25% of individuals arrested for DUI have a prior DUI conviction on their record. The look-back period for prior convictions varies from state to state as well, which can throw off the numbers a bit. For example, Mississippi only has a 5 year look-back period and had a correspondingly low percent of repeat DUI offenders of just 11%. Minnesota, on the other hand, has a “lifetime” look-back timeframe, so the rate is much higher at 41%.

    3. It Takes One Hour for the Average Person to Metabolize a Drink

    When you drink an alcoholic beverage, the small intestine is responsible for absorbing the bulk of the alcohol into your bloodstream. It then reaches the liver, where it takes roughly one hour for the average person to fully metabolize a single drink. However, variations in body composition, size, and metabolism lead to different people processing alcohol at very different rates.

    4. The Amount of DUI-Related Accidents is Probably Overstated

    While DUI-related accidents do occur, they are not responsible for the nearly 50% of traffic fatalities the way some “experts” claim. Governmnent statistics often refer to the number of “alcohol-related” collisions, which means that anyone in either car, or a pedestrian or cyclist, had alcohol in their system. This is very different than a car crash caused by a drunk driver, which account for just a small fraction of total car accidents.

    5. Less Than Half of DUI Arrestees Are Convicted of the Original Charge

    Contrary to what many people think, a DUI arrest is definitely not an automatic conviction. However, it is crucial to retain counsel from an experienced Indiana DUI attorney who can build a strong defense on your behalf. While it’s very common for the prosecution’s case to have holes and weak points, you need someone on your side who knows what to look for.