DUI Arrests for Women On The Rise

In 2007, DUI arrests involving women was 28.8% higher than it was in 1998 while the number of DUI arrests involving men fell by 7.5% over the same period of time. Even more disturbing is the rise in the number of women that are abusing alcohol, which, in this case, would mean having at least four drinks in a day.

While, on average, men still drink more than women, experts say women are starting to give men a run for their money. Many experts attribute the increase in drinking and DUI cases among women to number of factors as follows:

*Increased pressure at work and home
*Younger women feeling more empowered with a sense of equality to men
*Police less likely to let women go

To make matters worse, many women not only drink more but behave more recklessly by getting behind the wheel of the car with kids. According to Tom Meier, director of Drug Prevention and Stop DWI in New York's Westchester County, “we realized for the last two to three years, the pattern of more female drivers, particularly mothers with kids in their cars, getting arrested for drunk driving."

Aside from the obvious dangers involved with drunk driving with children in the car, as exhibited by the horrendous Taconic crash that left four young children dead, a DUI with kids in the car is really fast way going to jail and losing your children.

In California, for example, if any parent, man or women, is arrested for a DUI with a child under the age of 14 in the car at the time, you will not only be charged with the DUI but also with child endangerment. If convicted, the parent could potentially face substantial jail time and even potentially lose custody of their children depending on the circumstances of the case.

While drinking and DUI arrests have traditionally been a male dominated subject, the new trend of women drinking more and taking over the top spot on the DUI charts is not a welcomed trend. This may, in fact, be one area where women should welcome the gender difference and not challenge for the top spot. Drinking and driving is only ever a problem when we put the two together. Maybe we all, both men and women, should pump the breaks a little in the DUI deparment.

Written by Gabriel Dorman
gabedorman@gmail.com
www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/