Students in Wheeling County Schools will be a part of a new DUI Simulator Program. Here’s what you should know.
DUI Simulator
The new program will allow students to experience a number of driving situations, from weather conditions to driving under the influence. This will give students a unique perspective on what it’s like to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol to experience the effects substances can have on reaction time.
The driver’s education program teaches students the ins and outs of driving and the responsibility they have to follow road rules and navigate around other drivers.
Wheeling County students told reporters that they know several fellow students who think drinking and driving are “cool” when it’s not. They recognize the value in a program that teaches safety and informs them of what it could be like to break the law.
For the students who think drunk driving is cool, the DUI Simulator Program will give them a first-hand look at the consequences of their actions. This will help instructors better prepare students for the future.
How Does It Work?
The simulator is like a virtual reality experience – it allows the user to experience driving conditions first-hand without actually being in a car. At the beginning of the simulator, the vehicle is easy to navigate, but it becomes harder and harder to operate the car as the course continues.
This new program utilizes visual and physical effects to mimic the feeling of driving under the influence. Realistic graphics depict a wobbling field of vision that blurs and darkens like it would if someone were high or drunk behind the wheel. Accompanied by physical jolts that imitate bumps in the road or a collision. One student said,
“It’s actually a really scary thought to think that that could happen in real life. I think it was important for us […] to understand the consequences and driving under the influence.”
Is it Effective?
DUI simulators are a preventative measure to dissuade new drivers from driving drunk. It’s part of a statewide program of education and prevention involving the simulator and driving classes that teach driving safety.
What this program doesn’t teach students is what can happen during a DUI arrest. Instructors tell students the worst possible consequences, but there’s a lot more to DUI cases than arrest and trial.
DUIs are serious offenses, but no case is hopeless. Police often make errors during checkpoints and arrests that can lead to case dismissal.
Other cases may rely on situational evidence that shouldn’t be upheld in court. West Virginia has some of the strictest DUI laws in the United States, but with the right attorney, a DUI doesn’t have to ruin your life.
The Cost of an Underage DUI
If you or your child was arrested for an alleged DUI under the legal drinking age, you need to act fast to protect your rights and your future. The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years of age, and if caught drinking and driving under the legal age, you could face serious legal repercussions. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is already a serious crime, but the repercussions for young adults or teenagers can be particularly difficult. As a young adult, you’re just beginning to see what life has to offer, and a criminal record could impact your college eligibility, your job prospects, and your personal relationships.
Penalties
To ensure you stand your best chance standing up to the claims laid against you, make sure you understand the penalties you could face.
The penalties for underage DUI in West Virginia are as follows:
- 30-day driver’s license suspension
- The installation of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for six months
- Legal fees, including court fines and bail money
Although these are the standard repercussions for an underage DUI charge, the penalties can be more severe if the accused faces additional charges, or if this was a second offense. A first-offense driver who is under the age of 21 and is found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02% but less than 0.08%. If the BAC is greater, or if there is a minor in the vehicle, or if the driver harms someone else, they may face additional charges. Depending on those charges, the consequences may include steeper fines, jail time, or a longer driver’s license suspension, to name a few.
WV’s Top DUI Attorney
Depending on your situation and the charges laid against you, you might be facing a disciplinary hearing at school, or you could be facing juvenile charges. Whatever the case, make sure you discuss your case with an experienced attorney you can trust.
Harley Wagner of The Wagner Law Firm has over 21 years of experience handling DUI cases. Our firm focuses exclusively on drunk and impaired driving cases, and our successful track record speaks for itself.
“You will not find anyone more knowledge of DUI law than Harley Wagner. Very professional, comforting, reassuring, and you know from the first conversation that he is dedicated to ensuring you have the best possible outcome to a terrible situation.” – Former Client
Attorney Wagner has helped clients get their cases dismissed and reduced. He is an advocate in and out of court, and he will investigate every detail of your arrest and pursue the most optimal result. When you choose The Wagner Law Firm, you are putting your DUI case in very capable hands.
Our attorneys at The Wagner Law Firm are here to help. Call (304) 461-6000 today.
