5 posts from 2009

DUI - driving under the influence, or DWI - driving while intoxicated, has become prevalent in the news headlines lately; from celebrities, to teenagers, to college frat parties and so on. This has become very common between adults and teenagers. Lindsey Lohan, Mel Gibson, Tony Rock (Chris Rock brother), Mike Tyson, Rebecca De Mornay, Nick Bollea, Parris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Ray Liotta, Vivica A. Fox; Tony LaRussa, Warren Moon, and Shia LaBeouf are just some of the celebrities who have been caught in the Celebrity DUI Spotlight. Apparently we are not paying much attention to the statistics and the news because on average, someone is killed every 40 minutes by a drunk driver.

DUI or DWI has become prevalent in our society today. In 2002, 2.3 Americans 18 years and older were surveyed and reported alcohol impaired driving. When compared to the 1997 survey of this same population, the number for that year was 2.1. According to the National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD) over 20% of all traffic fatalities in the United States each year is cause by drunk driving. DUI or DWI is proving to be deadlier than we previously knew. Drivers often over look the fact that DUI or DWI is dangerous. People do not take the time to understand DUI and the tragic consequences underlying this hazard.

I understand that we live in a very secular society and that partying and good times are a part of human nature, but the simple key is responsibility. I am sure you have heard some MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) campaigns out there. MADD is a non-profit organization that seeks to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy. The organization was founded in 1980, in Irving, Texas by Candice Lightner, after her 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Clarence Busch. On the other hand, SADD, founded as Students Against Driving Drunk in 1981 in Wayland, Massachusetts, has grown to become the nation's dominant peer-to-peer youth prevention organization with over 10,000 chapters in middle schools, high schools, and colleges in the USA (United States of America). In 1997, in response to request from SADD students themselves, SADD expanded its mission and name, and now sponsors chapters called Students Against Destructive Decisions. SADD continues to endorse a firm "no use" message related to use of alcohol and other drugs. With its expanded focus, SADD now highlights prevention of all destructive behaviors and attitudes that are harmful to young people, including underage drinking; substance abuse impaired driving, violence and suicide.

Most campaigns states drink responsibly. Being responsible includes planning your party booze ahead of time. This entails getting a designated driver, planning to sleep over a friend's house if the party is being held there, or sleeping in your car if you find yourself at a bar or club. Do not become a statistic or a part of statistics. We need to be responsible enough to understand the consequences and the impact that drunk driving places on you as an individual and society. I like to introduce some families to you. Here is my first family. Picture yourself, your 3 children and mother attending a great family reunion and on the way home, your kids are ridding with their grandmother and their car is ahead of you. All of a sudden, a driver going the wrong way, drunk, hits your family head-on. Your 3 children and mother dies instantly right in front of your eyes. Imagine this pain, hurt and suffering that you will have to endure for the rest of your life. Someone decided to take a chance with his life, and took the lives of four instead of his own.

This is what happened to Cassie Crapps a 26 year, on February 6, 2008 in Arkansas. Her 3 children and mom were killed by a repeat offender who decided to be irresponsible. He wanted to party and take a chance. "You cannot eat your cake and have it." This saying is so true. When it comes to human lives, especially where others are concern, you cannot take chances. Life is not about gambling; LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS. It is one of the things that you cannot give back to someone when it is taken; you do not have that power. You can hurt someone by saying the wrong thing and apologize to them, and they will forgive you. Though you hurt a person's feelings, there will still be a way to make him or her understand through your apologies. You may damage something from someone and be able to pay back in cash or other products and services. However; when you injured a person or take a person's life, you will never replaced the devastation, hurt, disappointment, pain, anguish and suffering felt by the love ones left behind to carry this burden or to care for the injuries. It is a pain that is indescribable. The hole is so deep that no matter how many condolences received, it cannot fill that place that person once occupied.

On September 19, 2008 I lost someone very dear to me, my husband. My nightmare all begin September 14. My husband called me on his way home from work and this was the conversion:
Smain: Hi Sweetie,
Lydia: Hi Smain. How are you?
Smain: Are you awake?
Lydia: Yes. I just woke up. I spent all day at the salon. I need to find a different salon. They are too slow at the current place I'm going.
Smain: Did they do a good job with your hair?
Lydia: yes, it is pretty.
Smain: Sweetie, you will not believe what happened to me.
Lydia: What? Are you okay? Are you stuck in traffic?
Smain: No. My car is overheating, I don't understand it. I just took it for servicing.
Lydia: Where are you?
Smain: I am on 695. I am at exit 23, on the left hand side, on the shoulder. I have turned off the car to help cool down the engine.
Lydia: Sweetie, I think you should turn around and try to go to Mom's house. You are not far from there and then I will meet you there.
Smain: No Sweetie. It is late to go to your parent's house. They are all sleeping. I am too tired. I just want to come home.
Lydia: Do you want me to call the tow truck?
Smain: No. they will take forever. You know what? Come and meet me. Bring some antifreeze and I will use that to cool the engine and you can drive behind me. If it continues to give us problem then we will call for a tow truck.
Lydia: okay sweetie, I will see you in a few.
Smain: and oh sweetie, bring me some water to drink, I am thirsty.
Lydia: okay I will be there soon. Bye sweetie.
Smain: bye

In my wildest dreams, I never imagined this being the last conversation that would transpire between my husband and me. When I got to where he was, all I saw was flashing lights, ambulances and police cars. The interstate was shut down. It is about 3-4 lanes on the highway and they were all closed about 1/2-1mile before the crash. I called my husband about a million times and then, it dawn on me that he must have been involved in the crash. The tears started flowing; my legs became weak and numb. I could not feel the pedal beneath my feet. My heart was racing and my pulses were faster than my thoughts. I felt like I was about to pass out. I called my mother. She came running to my aid. I did not know if I wanted to move forward or stop. I knew my world had been turned upside down but I did not know the full details. Finally, after 1 hour or 1 and 1/2 hour, the traffic started to move. I could not wait to see the scene. I was praying and hoping and then I saw my husband mustang. The car windshield became the roof. I just wanted to know my husband where abouts. I was told he was helivac (emergency medical helicopter) to shock trauma. I am a registered nurse therefore; I knew that this could not be good. I raced to the hospital and my husband had been resuscitated x 1 already. My tears were pouring like rain. I could fill a house by then. I was praying like I had never prayed before.

My husband suffered a pelvic fracture, he was greatly loosing blood. He also sustained damages to his lungs. He needed immediate surgery. I told the doctors that he was a full code. This meant that they needed to do everything they could and knew to save his life. My husband made it out of surgery but we were still in grave danger. I was praying. He was intubated but that was not enough. He started dying, blood was everywhere. I am used to this and I find myself in the mist of it all. The doctors and nurses initiated another set of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). From 2am-7am, Smain had been resuscitated x 4. He was placed on an eckemo because intubation alone was not enough. This machine works as an external lung and heart to keep the circulation going. At least that is what I was told. His kidneys started failing. Blood transfusion was started. In fact, the blood transfusion had been initiated in the OR (operating room). From 2am-12pm, Smain received about 30units of blood.

Within 2 days he had received about 80units of blood. I was really scared and only voiced this to my mom. I refused to leave the hospital. I was sleeping on the floor along with my sister-in-law in the visitors waiting area. The hospital could not give any room on the unit because every bed was valuable. I did not want to be away from my Smain, my "Sweetie". When I got put out of his room, I go back and pray, I present every part of his body in pain and anguish to my God. By the third day, which was a Tuesday, Smain went for another surgery. I still did not know what happened at the accident scene. I was on my knees and he made it through. The doctors said to me, I don't know what your family is doing but keep doing it. We were all praying for healing. Thursday, I was sitting beside Smain and telling him that I love him. I told him that God would heal him and all he did was cried. All I saw were tears rolling down his cheeks. I knew he could feel my presence, and touch even though he was in a comma. I tried to be strong when I was around him. I did not want him to hear me cry and give up. I said to him, Sweetie, why are you crying? I love you and I always will no matter what. God will heal you for me. His sister was also talking to him.

It was about 10 or 11pm. The pulmonologist on call was paged. Everything started to go wrong and it did not look like Smain would survive. They called a code (Code= a medical emergency). They began the 5th and final CPR. I was right at his bedside. I was watching and imagining previous codes that I had been in when others lost loved ones. I was praying to God. I was watching my husband die. With all my knowledge and skills as a nurse, when it came to my own, I was helpless, hopeless, weak, weary, faint, sad, angry, hurt, cold, hot, and losing balance. Unable to stand on my feet because they were so numbed, I dropped to the floor. At that point, I felt like I would pee on myself. My body dropped to the ground because I could no longer hold myself up. I was told that it was the end. My sweet, loving, wonderful, husband Smain Aboubakar Abbo was dead at 0047 (12:47am), on Friday, September 19, 2008. He was only 27 years of age. I started searching for answers to some of my questions about the accident. The first thing I learned was that my husband had been hit by a drunk driver, Wayne Arthur Matabar, while parked on the shoulder. Mr. Matabar had geared off the left lane onto the shoulder of the road hitting my husband car from the rear. He had been put through all of this misery by a drunk driver. He had parked on the shoulder wide enough to hold 2 cars to be safe and because someone made the choice to drink and drive, to be "under the influence", to "drive while intoxicated", he took my precious flower, the only one that I loved in the botanic garden.

Read Further: Ezine Articles
Florida DUI Attorney

If you are accused of a crime, you will definitely want to consider hiring a good criminal lawyer. While you have the right to a public defender, and one will be appointed for you if you cannot afford to hire an outside attorney, a good criminal lawyer is the best way to ensure that you are well represented in court. Since your liberty is at stake, hiring a good criminal lawyer is not something to take lightly.

Create a Short List

Start the process of choosing a criminal lawyer by creating a short list of good potential candidates. You can use online searches or the phone book to find some options in your area. Visit the websites of the lawyers you are considering, and see if they have expertise in the particular area in which you are being prosecuted. You can often find this information in the lawyer's biographical profile on the website.

Once you have a name, search for that name online. Do not visit the lawyer or firm's website again, but see if there is any other information about the attorney. Perhaps he has written some articles or been mentioned by others online. This can either provide comfort to you that you have chosen a good attorney, or help you avoid someone that is less than professional.

You can also visit your local paper's website to search the paper's archives for the lawyer or firm's name. This will allow you to see if the lawyer has had any publicity, good or bad, for recent cases.

Finally, if you have any special needs, such as a limited English vocabulary, consider searching for a lawyer who can cater to these. You need to be able to communicate effectively with your lawyer throughout your case.

These tips will help you narrow down your list to two to four lawyers. Once you have done this, you are ready to contact the lawyers directly to choose the right one from your short list.

Make a Phone Call

Once you have your short list, make a phone call to try to set up an interview with the lawyer. This may not always be possible, because good criminal lawyers are very busy people and may not have the time for an interview with a prospective client. However, calling the firm will give you a chance to get a feel for the staff. Make sure they treat you with professionalism and common courtesy.

If you can get an interview with the lawyer, take it. Do not tell him too much about your case until you have agreed to work with him, but ask him how he has handled cases similar to yours.

As the lawyer for references, and call those references. This is time consuming, but getting first-hand knowledge about how the lawyer works with people who have been in your shoes is invaluable.

Find out how he is paid, as well. Lawyers usually will be paid by the hour or through an upfront fee, and these rates can vary significantly from firm to firm, so you will want to know ahead of time how much to expect to pay for services. Keep in mind, however, that the cheapest lawyer may not be the best one for your case. On the other hand, the most expensive one may not be best either. Consider the cost as part of the overall picture of the lawyer, and choose the one you are the most comfortable about working with on a daily basis.

Make Your Choice

Make sure that you feel confident that the lawyer you have chosen will handle your case well. Your instincts are invaluable in helping you choose a good criminal lawyer. So do your homework, count the cost, and then go with your gut and hire the lawyer you feel the most confident in at the end of the process.

Source: Article Base
Florida DUI Attorney

I believe in protecting people's rights. This includes the rights of anyone accused of a crime, even DUI and DWI. The DUI laws in every state are complex and nuanced. Knowing your rights and the laws will help you make better decisions - decisions that could have a big impact on the rest of your life.

Source: Ezine Articles
Florida DUI Attorney

DUI arrests are on the rise, and the state of Florida is no exception. Every day, ordinary law abiding citizens have their lives ruined because they had a few drinks before driving home at night.

Florida State DUI Laws

If you have a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 or more, you can be arrested for a DUI. Police can test your BAC with urine, blood, or breath tests. It is also important to remember if you are under the influence of drugs, you can receive a DUI as well.

First Offense

Florida imposes the following penalties for first time offenders:

· 1st degree misdemeanor for violations that cause property damage

· 3rd degree felony for violations causing serious bodily injury

· Manslaughter charges when an individual is killed

· Maximum jail time of 6 months; 9 months with a BAC over 2.0

· $250-$500 fine; $500-$1,000 if BAC is over 2.0

· Suspended license for 6 months to a year

· Vehicle impounded for 10 days

· Completion of 12 hours of DUI school

· Up to 1 year of probation

· 50 hours of community service; you will be fined $10 for every hour of service you fail to complete

Second Offense

All felony and misdemeanor charges remain the same. However, the other penalties are a bit steeper:

· Mandatory 10 days-9 months in jail; 12 months if both convictions occur in a 5 year period

· $500-$1,000 fines; $1,000-$2,000 if BAC is over 2.0

· Suspended license for 6 months to a year; minimum 5 year suspension if both convictions occur in a 5 year period

· Vehicle impounded for 30 days if both offenses are within 5 years of each other

· Completion of 21 hours of DUI school

· 1 year of probation

Insurance Consequences

Your insurance company will respond to your DUI conviction in one of two ways. They will either raise your rates or cancel your policy. Generally, the rate increase will be substantial. If your policy is canceled, you will need to find another insurance company that is willing to cover you as a “high-risk driver.” Again, your premiums will be high.

In order to have your license reinstated, you will need to provide the DMV with an SR-22 form stating that you have valid insurance. Some insurance companies do not offer SR-22 policies, and as a result they may be forced to cancel your policy.

The Consequences are Severe

Many people who have never gotten in trouble with the law have seen their lives ruined by a DUI offense. If you work in education, medicine, government, or childcare, you may have trouble finding future employment, and your current job may be jeopardized.

I have personally experienced this first-hand. I received a DUI in 2000 when I was 23 years old. Later on, I got my Master’s Degree in education and applied for middle and high school teaching positions in my area. I had a job offer revoked once the district’s HR department learned of my DUI conviction.

Unfortunately, DUIs remain on your record for the rest of your life. If you make a stupid mistake at a young age, you might have to pay the consequences for decades. Therefore, you must consult an experienced DUI attorney in order to minimize the damage caused by your mistake.

Source: Article Base
Florida DUI Attorney

DUI arrests are on the rise, and the state of Florida is no exception. Every day, ordinary law abiding citizens have their lives ruined because they had a few drinks before driving home at night.

Florida State DUI Laws

If you have a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 or more, you can be arrested for a DUI. Police can test your BAC with urine, blood, or breath tests. It is also important to remember if you are under the influence of drugs, you can receive a DUI as well.

First Offense

Florida imposes the following penalties for first time offenders:

· 1st degree misdemeanor for violations that cause property damage

· 3rd degree felony for violations causing serious bodily injury

· Manslaughter charges when an individual is killed

· Maximum jail time of 6 months; 9 months with a BAC over 2.0

· $250-$500 fine; $500-$1,000 if BAC is over 2.0

· Suspended license for 6 months to a year

· Vehicle impounded for 10 days

· Completion of 12 hours of DUI school

· Up to 1 year of probation

· 50 hours of community service; you will be fined $10 for every hour of service you fail to complete

Second Offense

All felony and misdemeanor charges remain the same. However, the other penalties are a bit steeper:

· Mandatory 10 days-9 months in jail; 12 months if both convictions occur in a 5 year period

· $500-$1,000 fines; $1,000-$2,000 if BAC is over 2.0

· Suspended license for 6 months to a year; minimum 5 year suspension if both convictions occur in a 5 year period

· Vehicle impounded for 30 days if both offenses are within 5 years of each other

· Completion of 21 hours of DUI school

· 1 year of probation

Insurance Consequences

Your insurance company will respond to your DUI conviction in one of two ways. They will either raise your rates or cancel your policy. Generally, the rate increase will be substantial. If your policy is canceled, you will need to find another insurance company that is willing to cover you as a “high-risk driver.” Again, your premiums will be high.

In order to have your license reinstated, you will need to provide the DMV with an SR-22 form stating that you have valid insurance. Some insurance companies do not offer SR-22 policies, and as a result they may be forced to cancel your policy.

The Consequences are Severe

Many people who have never gotten in trouble with the law have seen their lives ruined by a DUI offense. If you work in education, medicine, government, or childcare, you may have trouble finding future employment, and your current job may be jeopardized.

I have personally experienced this first-hand. I received a DUI in 2000 when I was 23 years old. Later on, I got my Master’s Degree in education and applied for middle and high school teaching positions in my area. I had a job offer revoked once the district’s HR department learned of my DUI conviction.

Unfortunately, DUIs remain on your record for the rest of your life. If you make a stupid mistake at a young age, you might have to pay the consequences for decades. Therefore, you must consult an experienced DUI attorney in order to minimize the damage caused by your mistake.

Source: Article Base
Florida DUI Attorney