New Orleans Law Blog

One thing that the residents of New Orleans know how to do is throw a party. During the holidays, you could end up attending several of them, and more than likely, there will be alcohol. Having a few drinks with friends, co-workers or family may not seem harmful, but if you get behind the wheel afterward, it could cause a great deal of harm.

More than likely, you wouldn't consider drinking and driving, so when you left that holiday party, you probably felt as though you were okay to drive. Then, your luck changed, and a police officer pulled you over for one reason or another. Now, you face arrest for DUI as the officer brings out a breath-testing machine.

Do you look forward to kicking back on weekends, perhaps with a glass of wine or your favorite mixed drink? After all, you work hard all week and you have a right to enjoy your free time, right? There is nothing necessarily inherently or legally wrong with consuming alcohol, provided you act in accordance with state laws that govern such matters. If, for instance, you are not age 21 or older, then your alcohol habit might land you in a heap of legal trouble.

Even if you are of legal age to imbibe, any number of problems can arise in alcohol-related situations that put your future at risk, such as a police officer suspecting you of drunk driving. Like all people who choose to consume alcohol, you must make responsible choices that help keep you and travelers with whom you share the road as safe as possible.

Drunk driving laws in Louisiana and across the country are already strict, but they may be getting tougher. The standard legal blood alcohol content limit is .08 percent in all states and the District of Columbia. However, on Dec. 30, Utah will lead the way in introducing a lower BAC of .05 percent. This represents a significant reduction from the current legal limit and a much tougher standards; it could also lead to significantly more arrests for drunk driving.

Polls indicate that a majority of Americans favor this approach; one survey said that 55 percent of respondents supported a national decrease in the BAC limit to .05 percent. Every day, around 30 people lose their lives in car accidents linked to drunk driving, and the cost of these crashes can amount to over $44 billion annually. While some advocates urge the use of ignition interlocks, car-installed breathalyzer devices that prevent a vehicle from operating when the driver is over the limit, others urge a reduced BAC limit and greater use of sobriety checkpoints by police.

For those who don't have it, or more precisely don't have enough of it, money can seem like a cure to all the world's ills. For those who have experienced how damaging is the blind pursuit of it and the excesses it can lead to, money may truly be considered the root of all evil. The truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Many married couples have sufficient resources and do not have difficulty paying their bills. Financial observers report that where both work and contribute to the economic stability of the household, they fare better in keeping the marriage on track. Where one of the pair is the primary breadwinner, traditionally the man but not always, there is often more stress on that individual in the form of long hours at work and perhaps extensive travel. That is not a good formula for an enduring relationship.