DRIVERS can be pulled over, arrested and even lose their license for drinking too much coffee – according to a law expert.
A lawyer for Sparks Law Firm, a criminal defense law firm located in Fort Worth, Texas, has warned motorists that a DWI isn’t just for alcohol.
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In a YouTube short, an expert said: “It can be alcohol, it can be drugs or any other substance – including caffeine.”
Obviously, everyone knows that driving while under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Drugs are perhaps less obvious, as a DWI can be incurred on legal and illegal drugs – including prescription medications or something from over the counter.
But lesser known are other substances, such as caffeine.
The lawyer in the video admits that “we don’t see that happen”, but it’s worth noting that excessive use of other substances can be grounds for a DWI.
Essentially, any substance that impairs or intoxicates someone while driving can lead to risk of a DWI.
As coffee drinkers will know, caffeine is a stimulant and does not impair driving in the way intoxicating substances do.
However, there are some important considerations, including unusual behavior.
A person who’s consumed an extremely high amount of caffeine may demonstrate erratic behavior or experience jitteriness, anxiety, or loss of focus.
In these instances, law enforcement officers might consider charging them under broader reckless or impaired driving laws.
Furthermore, some states have laws that prohibit driving under the influence of any substance that affects your ability to drive.
While caffeine is unlikely to meet the threshold for impairment, extreme effects from overconsumption might be scrutinized.
This comes as a new law could be coming into effect in Jacksonville, Florida, in just a matter of weeks which may spell the end of food trucks being parked at gas stations.
The City Council is looking to ban mobile restaurants from operating on gas station property, with new legislation set to be passed on April 8.
Officials claim the main reason for the ban is concerns over major, combustible fire hazards being positioned so near to large amounts of fuel.
Elsewhere, drivers in Honolulu, Hawaii, have begun receiving warning letters in the mail as the city begins its first stage of a photo speed enforcement program.
It will see car owners having their vehicle and speed data collected thanks to 15 cameras dotted around the city – in what begins a long period of warning.
This new data has been able to identify certain hot spots that require further enforcement – with one intersection rising above the others in terms of speeding.
That intersection, located on School Street and Likelike Highway, has four cameras already and catches drivers from all directions – with speed limits in this area as low as 30 and 25 mph.
However, locations of speed cameras were limited by the legislature, according to State Transportation director Ed Sniffen.
Applying for a REAL ID
The process varies by state, but residents will need a few documents to apply for a REAL ID before the deadline.
No matter the state, the application process can be started online by scanning and uploading the necessary documents, basic information, and Social Security numbers. Once submitted and reviewed, an in-person visit to the DMV or your state’s department agency is necessary for an attendant to verify the documents.
From there, a thumbprint will be recorded in the system, and a photo will be issued for the ID before it’s mailed.
The documents needed are those that show:
- Full legal name (previous driver’s license, passport, etc)
- Date of birth (like a birth certificate, or an official copy of one)
- Social Security number (Social Security card)
- Two proofs of residence (like a utility bill or voter registration card)
- Lawful status
Source: Department of Homeland Security
