The Comprehensive Impaired Driving Act of 2012 imposes harsher penalties on repeat drunk driver offenders and offenders with high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in the District. The new law, which was sponsored by Phil Mendelson, went into effect on August 1, 2012.  The law:

• increases the mandatory minimum jail sentences for convictions;
• subjects offenders with a minor child in the car to mandatory jail time – five days if the child is in a required child restraint seat and ten days if not;
• lowers the BAC for commercial vehicle drivers including taxi drivers from .08 percent to .04 percent; and
• clarifies parts of the D.C. Code applicable to impaired driving.

Additionally, District expects to relaunch its breathalyzer program, which has been shut down since February 2010.

If you have been charged with driving under the influence in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, contact the attorneys at Patel & Williams, PLLC.