Drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the major reasons for road accidents. In the United States, about 5,268 people died due to motorcycle accidents, of which 1,436 were under the influence of alcohol. About 27% of all motorcycle fatalities are associated with drunk driving.
When people ride a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol, they will have less control over their bodies. As their senses are impaired, motorcyclists are likely to crash into people, vehicles, or objects on the road. When you are involved in a motorcycle crash and suffer injuries, the right thing to do is consult an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to file an accident report and get compensation.
If the motorcyclists have a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher and are caught driving their bikes, they can be arrested by the concerned authorities. Those who are under 21 years old should have zero blood alcohol concentration.
What are the Consequences of Riding a Motorcycle Under the Influence of Alcohol?
Driving under the influence of alcohol leads to numerous severe consequences, which are listed below.
● Road Crash
On a day-to-day basis, there are nearly 32 drunk-driving accident fatalities in the United States. When drunk people ride a motorcycle, they tend to collide with other vehicles, humans, or items, which results in road accidents. Depending on the severity of the crash, the people involved will suffer minor wounds, fatal injuries, or direct deaths.
● License Suspension
In the majority of the states, for first-time conviction cases, the license of the at-fault rider will be suspended for 90 days, and they will need to undergo an alcohol treatment program. For second conviction cases, the driving license will be suspended for nearly 18 months. However, the license suspension duration is different from one state to another in the United States.
● Imprisonment
Based on the impact of the crash, the at-fault drivers will also serve jail time. For instance, the jail time is 48 hours for first-conviction cases and 72 hours for second-conviction cases. In some states, there will be no jail time, while some states mandate jail time of up to a year. If any people suffer severe injuries or instant deaths due to the accident, the jail time will be extended to several years.
● Fines
The at-fault motorcyclists will have to pay fines when caught riding under the influence of alcohol. Based on state laws, the average drunk driving fine ranges from USD 100 to USD 1000. However, some states, like Delaware, charge fines as high as $1,1500 depending on the crash severity and offending legal level. In New York, the offenders have to pay a fine between USD 500 to USD 1,000.
● Install an Ignition Interlock Device
In the United States, several states made it mandatory to install ignition interlock machines for people who were once caught riding a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. It is a breathing test machine attached to the ignition of the vehicle. The rider can only start the vehicle after breathing into the device and has blood alcohol concentration as per the given limit.
Bottom Line
Drinking alcohol impacts vision, the brain, balance, the sense of hearing, etc. As a result, it completely affects the ability to ride the motorcycle properly, leading to motorcycle crashes. The legal consequences of drunk driving differ from state to state in the United States. Depending on the severity of the crash, the rider can be subjected to license suspension, fines, imprisonment, community service, etc.
