Ross Goldberg: Is it true that the police can ask for a breathalyzer tests in Arizonian? I have already been involved in a DUI once and do not want it again since my SR22 insurance was very high.
Response : A good question – luckily so far USA this has not been implemented. In Canada the DUI legislation may allow random breathalyzer tests as per the latest news on Sept. 26, 2009. Canada’s federal department of justice may expand impaired driving legislation to allow police to administer roadside breath tests randomly, regardless of whether or not officers suspect the driver has been drinking, Canwest News Service reported. Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said that the department is mulling a proposed amendment to the Criminal Code during a keynote address at the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada annual conference.
 However, debate is swirling around whether or not the random testing would constitute a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in that the charter guarantees against unreasonable search and seizure, Canada.com reported.
Currently, unless a driver admits to drinking, the police currently need visible signs of impairment in order to demand a roadside breath test on a screening device, according to a July 2009, MADD Canada report, Random Breath Testing: A Review of the Evidence.
“American research indicates that using these enforcement techniques, the police failed to detect more than 60% of legally impaired drivers stopped at sobriety checkpoints,” the report said.
Random breath testing has been implemented in countries such as Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
“In Queensland, Australia, random breath testing was estimated to have reduced total fatal crashes by 35% between 1988 and 1992, preventing an estimated 789 fatal crashes in that period,” the report said.

Thus from this report and news you will understand that it might not be long for the law to be implemented in Canada and than the law coming across the border.

I would advice you not to worry but start taking precautions like the putting the steering lock. Also the good news on the DUI car insurance is that certain specialized insurers offer you cheap affordable SR22 car insurance quotes. Please shop online.

Ben Affleck :What are the normal speeding tickets that are given for over 50 km and what are the steps one can take. How would this affect auto insurance?
Response : I would deal with the insurance option first being an insurance expert. If you are caught speeding and do not have any demerit points, the personal auto underwriting companies will accept your proposal with a higher quote. If you get over 4 points , as per the personal lines, you will be grouped in the high risk category and you will have to pay higher insurance like the drunk drivings and other offences. You will have to go t the specialty insurance market who underwrite DUI or sr22 car insurance quotes, since they would give you a better quote than the drunk drivers. Believe me for them you are a low risk compared to the intoxicated driving offenders. You will naturally pay higher than the normal rates, however you can still get affordable cheap car insurance in this group for sr22 car insurance.

  When you are speeding by over 50 km ove r the limit that is posted and you have to pay a fine as per what you are charged. There are 3 options for you:

1) Pleading Guilty
2) Pleading Guilty with an Explanation
3) Trial / Not Guilty

When you plead guilty you will be fined and mostly the demerit points will not be added to your record. The trail option is the only option if you do not want to pay and fight the charge or reduce the charges and the demerit points also. A plea of guilt with an explanation is not a trial and your speeding ticket will not be eliminated off of your record with this option.  At most the speeding ticket may be slightly reduced, but this usually only includes the fine amount and not the demerit points.  The trial option is the only way to fight for dismissal of a speeding ticket or for a drastic reduction in the fine or demerit points.

Demerit Points for Speeding Tickets

0 – 15 km/hr over = 0 points (minor infraction)
16 – 29km/hr over = 3 points (minor infraction)
30 – 49 km/hr over = 4 points (major infraction)
50+ km/hr over = 6 points + 30 day license suspension

Smith : I am from Colorado and recently I was held for the offence of DUI? What will happen to my insurance if my license is suspended? Can I get back my license? How much does DUI car insurance or sr22 car insurance cost?

Response : Smith, I am sorry that you were held for DUI. The laws in Colorado regarding DUI/DWI are as under :

Please check up at the website given here http://www.iihs.org/laws/StateLaws.aspx?StateAbbr=CO regarding the law which is as given above.

For DUI car insurance, the first thing that you will have to do is to inform your insurance company about your license being suspended. If you are not going to drive the auto to be placed under non use. However, you will have to get it removed from non-use as soon as your license is valid.  Secondly get the interlocked fixed. Thirdly, your auto insurance premium for DUI car insurance is certainly going to increase. If you require a  SR22 insurance form  your rate would have been even higher. Do not panic, certain insurance companies give insurance for DUI and so you will still get comparative quotes for this . Be more careful and try not to drink and drive. You can take a quote from here and compare the quotes first and do not rush to buy.

Thanks.

Kamlesh

Leslie : Is DUI driving the only issue for auto insurance or are there any other measures being taken for stopping auto accidents. Is this also high risk as per auto insurance.

Response : Leslie, this is an excellent question. the next biggest problem other than drunk driving in the US is the problem of text messaging or distracted driving. This is another factor which is considered to be a big issue and high risk. Unfortunately for the insurance companies, just like the fact that many drivers do drunk driving or drive under influence but are not caught. Thus in spite of being a high risk they escape with paying a low premium. Likewise till date the persons doing text messaging or distracted driving are a high risk but are not caught.

Text messaging is now banned and so those caught with this offence have to pay only some fines, however, the person who is involved in an accident will naturally pay a higher premium on account of the accident on the record. I would not be surprised if the insurance companies do start considering this offence also as high risk , and rightly so. There are incidents when woman also have caused serious and fatal accidents because of this.

Leslie, one should stay away from drinks, text messaging and all other distractions whilst driving since it is your life at risk also. DUI car insurance, sr 22 car insurance and claim records all are high risk and costly insurances for anyone.

Rachel  : How are impaired driving offences determined? How is it important to dui car insurance?

Response : First let me answer your second question related to dui car insurance. Impaired driving is driving under influence or drunk driving. When one is under the influence of alcohol, it affects your brain and your sense of judgment and stability. Hence persons under intoxication are prone to impaired driving. They are more likely to be involved in accidents and these persons are considered as high risk. The insurance companies charge high rates for dui car insurance and the person charged with this offence would need SR22 car insurance.

Now coming to the how driving offences are decided it would depend upon the state laws. However the general rules and guidelines are as given below:

 Each State should enact impaired driving laws that are sound, rigorous, and easy to enforce and administer. Treating both offenses similarly; 

The laws should clearly define offenses, contain provisions that facilitate effective enforcement, and establish effective  consequences. The laws should define offenses to include 

 1) Driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs (whether illegal, prescription or over-the-counter) and to operate a vehicle at or above this level without having to prove impairment;2) Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of .08 grams per deciliter, making it illegal “per se” driving offense;  

3) Driving with a high BAC (i.e., .15 BAC or greater) with enhanced sanctions above the standard impaired their system

4 )  Zero Tolerance for underage drivers, making it illegal “per se” for people under age 21 to drive with any(i.e., .02 BAC or greater);

  5) Repeat offender with increasing sanctions for each subsequent offense; 6) BAC test refusal with sanctions at least as strict or stricter than a high BAC offense;

6) Personal injury while driving impaired as separate offenses with additional sanctions;

 7) Driving with a license suspended or revoked for impaired driving, with vehicular homicide or causing 

Open container laws, prohibiting possession or consumption of any open alcoholic beverage in the other than a seat belt violation primary seat belt provisions that do not require that officer observe or cite a driver for a separate offense. These are some of the broad applicable laws for impaired driving. It is best not to drive when you are impaired. Your auto insurance rates for DUI SR22 car insurance will increase a lot once you are arrested for this offence.  However, you would still get good SR22 car insurance if you follow some strategies.

Thanks.

Kamlesh