Over the limit
Question
I was recently arrested for drink driving. When I was arrested, I was a third over the legal limit. Will I lose my licence?
Answer
The period after an arrest is a nervous time as it's often difficult to predict what the consequences will be. As awareness grows about the risks of alcohol use, laws are becoming tougher. The purpose of these laws is to protect people from endangering themselves and others.
Most drivers think that they can keep their alcohol limit under control on a night out. I'm sure you've heard of lots of techniques for this, like having only specific types of drinks. However, alcohol affects different people in different ways, so there is no safe way to drink and drive.
In general, the penalty for drink driving is quite strict and it will be up to the courts to determine what you are given. It would be useful for you to contact Release. This organisation offers a legal helpline for issues related to drug and alcohol use. You can contact them by phone on 0845 4500 215 or via email at ask@release.org.uk. This would give you an opportunity to provide more detail about the circumstances surrounding the arrest and your past record, as the courts will take all of this into consideration.
In the future, if you or a friend have drunk too much to drive home safely, it's always safer to get a cab or public transport. You might want to check out services such as ScooterMan, who will drive you and your car home.
Updated: 01/06/2011
Question answered by Addaction
