Essay --

Even though there is an age requirement, alcohol should be banned because it leads to drunk driving and kills. Here in the state of Missouri, statistics show that in 2011, 9,878 people died in drunk driving crashes. One crash every 53 minutes. There are two types of drunk driving offenses. One is DWI, which is driving while intoxicated. The other is the DUI, driving under the influence, which would be of alcohol or other drugs. They both follow the same rules and laws. Here in Missouri, we have strict laws and offenses that limit drunk driving. The legal blood alcohol level for driving is a maximum .08% if you are over the age of 21 and .02% for minors under the age 21. A first offence for driving while intoxicated is considered a class B misdemeanor. Class B misdemeanors can vary from 30 days up to six months in jail, up to $500 in fines, or both. A second offense within five years of the first violation is a class A misdemeanor and is serving up to 1 year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. A third conviction for DWI in your lifetime is a class D felony and you serve 4 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. Previous laws in Missouri used to require that the first offense would have occurred within 10 years of the 3rd offense, but now it is a lifetime look back. A fourth conviction is a class C felony and is punishable by up to 7 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. A fifth conviction is a class B felony and is punished with up to 15 years in prison. With DUI convictions, even first-time offenders receive a license suspension. The suspension ranges from 90 days to a full year. Drivers who have a second or third DUI conviction face having their licenses revoked for another five to ten years, not including their other consequ... ... sure before you do drink, someone is assigned to be the designated driver and make sure that they are committed to not drinking any alcoholic beverages. As technology increases, there are more and more types of ways to prevent drunk driving. The use of ignition locks is growing in popularity and are trying to be mandatory for all vehicles. An ignition lock is a machine that is connected to a car’s ignition and checks the drivers blood alcohol content level. Installing an ignition lock in repeated violators cars is a possibility in many states. They would have to blow into the machine to start the car and also from time to time while driving. If alcohol is detected, the car either does not start or turns itself off. If a driver fails the test while the car is in motion, the vehicle’s horn will honk, or the lights will flash to get the attention of police officers.