November 25, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ --
Women Under the Influence ? Chicago DUIs On the Rise
Article provided by Jerald Novak Attorney at Law
Visit us at
www.iwindui.com
More and more women are getting rides in police cars, according to recent statistics.
In Chicago and across the country, an increasing number of women are finding themselves taking a backseat ride to the police station under DUI charges. In fact, between 1998 and 2007, female DUI arrests rose 28.8 percent according to FBI statistics. This contrasts starkly against the trend in male arrests, which fell by over seven percent in the same time period.
Overall, DUI arrests among women remain less common than those among men. Still, the dramatic increase in arrests since 1998 is alarming and has gained quite a bit of attention.
Chicago was one of many cities cracking down on drunk driving during the stretch through Labor Day weekend this year. Checkpoints and designated patrols were used to corral DUI offenders during the national effort, which was announced in mid-August.
The increase in DUI arrests among females was cited frequently as one of the propulsive factors in the Labor Day clamp down. Why women and why now?
There are several theories regarding the sudden increase, but many think that there has been a change in the drinking behavior and attitude of women, leading to increased arrests. Also, it is more common for females to suffer from anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder and self medicate with alcohol.
DUI laws have become increasingly strict in recent years, making it less likely that police officers will let female drivers off with a warning. If so, the increase in DUI arrests among women is less a shift of drinking habits and more of a transformation within the collective attitude of arresting officers. In short, they're simply not as willing to tolerate indiscretion.
On the other hand, some experts have perceived a social change in which women are willing to drink more and make riskier decisions. Binge drinking, especially on college campuses, is a growing concern.
With a large number of universities located in and around Chicago, it's easy to imagine how this could be contributing to the increase in arrests by police in and around the city.
DUI convictions carry a heavy penalty in Illinois. First-time offenders lose their license for a year and could owe up to $2,500 in fines and face up to one year in the county jail. Repeat offenders could lose their license for life and face up to 30 years in prison.
If you've been charged with DUI and are facing loss of a license, along with heavy fines, contact an experienced DUI lawyer.
Article provided by Jerald Novak Attorney at Law
Visit us at
www.iwindui.com---
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