| Criminal Offense of Failure to Assist an Injured Person |
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| Motorists involved in any type of motor vehicle accident where personal injury or death occurs are required to remain at the scene until police arrive. All states have statutes setting out certain procedures a motorist must follow after involvement in a collision causing death or injury. Moreover, the statutes treat the term "accident" or "collision" to include all automobile collisions, intentional as well as unintentional. More... |
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| Consequences of No Contest Plea in DUI/DWI cases |
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| Pleading no contest or nolo contendere means you admit no guilt for the crime, but merely signify your consent to being punished as if you were guilty. In the context of a drunk driving DUI (driving while intoxicated) or DWI (driving while under the influence) offense, such a plea is usually discretionary with the judge. More... |
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| Penalties for Felony DUI/DWI |
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| The penalties for felony driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or driving while intoxicated (DWI) vary depending upon the state. Many of the states have adopted sentencing guidelines that are similar to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Under these guidelines, the states usually provide a sentencing range for each type of offense and provide aggravating and mitigating circumstances that can be used to increase or decrease the sentence. More... |
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| DUI School |
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| In an effort to attack the problem of drunken driving, most drunk driving legislation currently provides a combination of punishment and treatment. Consequently, offenders charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) are sentenced to probation rather than incarceration. As part of their probationary conditions, DWI/DUI offenders are often directed to participate in a driver education program, commonly referred to as "DUI schools," which incorporate alcohol rehabilitation and education programs. More... |
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| Criminal Offense of Hit and Run and Failure to Remain at the Scene |
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| A hit and run car accident is generally defined as a person's failure to stop after a motor vehicle accident. When a person operating a motor vehicle is involved in an accident, the operator is legally required to stop, provide information to the owner of whatever property is damaged, and provide any aid to anyone who may have been injured. Many state statutes require a motorist to render all the aid that reasonably appears to him or her, as an ordinary person, to be necessary. The duty is not excused even if the injured person is unconscious, dead, or believed to be dead. More... |
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