Carson City sheriff's deputies, area law enforcement step up DUI patrol in September

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office along with other law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be participating in Joining Forces through the month of September. The focus will be impaired drivers and riders.

The Labor Day holiday culminates the end of summer, a period known by enforcement officials as the “hundred deadliest days,” as fatalities tend to increase during the summer, beginning with Memorial Day, said Carson City Sheriff's Office Sgt. Scott McDaniel.

Impaired driving fatalities have consistently been the most common cause of motor vehicle accidents resulting in injuries and death in Nevada. In 2014, four people were killed on Nevada’s roadways over the Labor Day weekend alone and law enforcement will be working hard to ensure the trend is not repeated by encouraging responsible choices for motorists this holiday weekend, he said.

In efforts to achieve the “Zero Fatalities” goal, drivers and riders are encouraged to know the law for blood alcohol levels and to abide by the following guidelines:

— Designate a sober driver before drinking;
— Use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member or use public transportation if impaired;
— Take advantage of local sober ride programs;
— Call 911 if a drunk driver is spotted on the road;
— Take the keys or assist in making other arrangements for someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired

Grant funding for this event is provided by the Nevada Department of Public Safety-Office of Traffic Safety. These monies are used to pay for additional deputies who will be out looking for impaired drivers and riders.

Other events that will be held in the future focus on pedestrian safety, seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving. The object of these events is to increase safety on our roadways and reduce crashes which can lead to death and injuries, said McDaniel.

According to Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, the Illegal Per Se Law simply means that driving with a BAC at or above the legally prescribed limit is an offense in and of itself. However, because the BAC limits are just a guide, you can also be arrested or cited for having a lower ― but still detectable ― amount of alcohol in your system.

The Implied Consent Law means that you must submit to BAC testing when requested by a police officer. Getting into the car while under the influence of drugs or alcohol already "implies" your consent to being tested.
If you resist, law enforcement has been given permission to use reasonable force. You can also be arrested immediately for resisting (this is the more likely result).

The Open Container Law makes it illegal to drive a vehicle with opened alcoholic beverages anywhere in the car. It doesn't apply, however, to the living areas of a motor home or RV, or the passenger areas of buses, taxis, and limousines.

If you are driving under the influence with minors under the age of 15 in your car, that will be considered an "aggravating circumstance" and will undoubtedly result in harsher penalties.

If you are convicted of driving under the influence, you will be charged an extra $60 for the chemical tests, if any were done at the time of your arrest.

Getting a DUI comes with different types of consequences: administrative and criminal. The DMV will impose penalties on you and your license, administrative, and the courts may fine you and press criminal charges.

The DMV will suspend your license upon your arrest for DUI. To get your license back after both this suspension and the court-imposed suspension have elapsed, you will be required to do the following at the DMV:

— Pay all fines and fees.
— Retake the vision and written tests, and possibly also the skills test.

First conviction:
Driver license revoked for 90 days. After 45 days, you may be eligible to apply for a restricted license that will enable you to drive to work and back.
Jail sentence of at least 2 days and up to 6 months, or 96 hours of community service.
Fine of at least $400 and up to $1,000.
Mandatory attendance at DUI school; average cost is $150 for tuition.
Possible order to attend a substance-abuse treatment program.

Second conviction within seven years:
Driver license revoked for 1 year. You will not be eligible for a restricted license.
Jail sentence or home arrest of at least 10 days and up to six months.
Fine of at least $750 and up to $1,000.
One hundred to 200 hours of mandatory community service.
Possible car registration suspension.
Possible order to attend a substance-abuse treatment program or undergo clinical supervision for up to 1 year.

Third (or more) conviction within seven years:
Driver license revoked for 3 years; you may be eligible for a restricted license under certain circumstances.
Prison sentence of at least 1 year and up to 6 years.
Fine of at least $2,000 and up to $5,000.
Possible car registration suspension.
DUI causing death or serious injury (even on a first offense):
Driver license revoked for 3 years.
Prison sentence of at least 2 years and up to 20 years.
Fine of at least $2,000 and up to $5,000.