Questions You Have About DUIs in Mississippi, Answered

Mississippi has long had a complex relationship with legalities surrounding alcohol. In fact, it is one of the few completely dry states left in the country. This means that despite the fact that Prohibition ended in the United States 90 years ago, Mississippi technically did not legalize the sale of liquor as a state. Each county is dry by default, and they have to individually legalize the sale of liquor. With that being said, the rules in Mississippi are changing in 2021 thanks to a new law permitting possession of alcohol in every county. However, there are still restrictions in place until January 1, 2021; as of now, 29 out of Mississippi's 82 counties remain dry. Furthermore, the sale of alcohol will remain illegal by default until residents in each county vote otherwise. It can understandably be difficult for even Mississippi residents to stay abreast of the laws surrounding alcohol in their state. But it's a good idea for them to ask questions if they are ever confused, because the penalties for breaking these laws can be stiff. DUIs in particular can be crushing, carrying more weight than charges like public intoxication. That's why we're answering some of the common questions that Mississippi residents may have about DUIs. The more that you know, the less at risk you will be.

Can I Get A DUI When Sitting in a Parked Car in a Parking Lot?

This is a particularly confusing scenario for many Mississippi residents. If your car is parked in a parking lot, but your blood alcohol level is over the legal limit, can you be charged with a DUI? The unfortunate answer is yes. You do not need to have any evidence of driving to be charged with a DUI. Even if your keys are out of the ignition, you can be charged with this offense. In fact, in some cases, those charged with DUIs are not even physically in their cars at the time that they are approached by officers. The issue is this: even if you are sleeping in your car or sitting beside it in the parking lot, if the police officer can make the determination that you had the intent to drive, you can be charged. Driving in a parking lot intoxicated in itself can be quite dangerous. With over 90% of all parking areas being surfaced with asphalt pavement, these are areas prone to cracks and bumps, and if you're driving drunk it can be easy for you to collide with another car or a building. But with that being said, defense lawyers often attack DUIs charged under these circumstances. Usually, these types of charges will occur more often late at night or in the early morning hours. Often, people attempt to avoid driving drunk, parking in a parking lot in order to "sleep it off" at the wheel. But it's a better idea to avoid driving or being in your car at all by catching a ride from a friend or, if you're far from home, staying at an acquaintance's house or a hotel.

What Happens to My Car Insurance if I'm Charged with a DUI?

The car insurance industry is quite lucrative, with roughly 42% of 2018's 110,400 employed underwriters working with direct insurance carriers. This is with good reason; every driver in the United States needs to have car insurance. But what happens if you're charged with a DUI? Can this affect your car insurance rates in any way? Typically, the answer is yes. Your car insurance rates will often rise, though this may depend on where you live, your driving record previously, and the conditions of your charge. Using New York City, an area with high insurance premiums as an example, the average premium rose by $1,098 following a DUI. The carrier of your insurance policy matters too. An Illinois study indicated that State Farm's auto insurance premiums increased by just 28% following a DUI; in contrast, Nationwide's rates increased by 86%. In Atlanta, rates usually increased by around 31%. This could have a significant impact on your yearly budget in the long term. The issue with a DUI is that it makes your insurance company consider you a high-risk driver. It could be years before you are able to recover from this impact.

Why Are Mississippi's DUI Laws So Strict?

One reason why there are such harsh penalties for drunk drivers in general, but especially in Mississippi, is the danger inherent to driving drunk. Not only is it dangerous for those that are driving, but everyone around them. Consider the fact that according to statistics offered by the CDC, 1.8% of California's over 26 million licensed drivers admitted to driving drunk. In Mississippi, 1.2% of all drivers admit to driving after drinking too much. But further data may indicate the results of these habits. In reality, 2014 saw 607 total fatalities related to auto accidents. Of those 607, 207 of them were alcohol-related. This means that 34% of those fatal accidents were related to alcohol in some way. Furthermore, Mississippi has issues relating to its drunk driving accidents aside from the alcohol alone. About 90.1% of Americans wear their seatbelts on a national level. But in Mississippi, just 77.9% of residents wear their seatbelts. This places Mississippi among the states with the lowest rates of buckled drivers and riders. Considering the fact that Mississippi is struggling with these problems despite being a dry state, it makes sense that penalties are strong. But some may question whether or not they're as effective as they could be, considering the statistics. There are a lot of issues impacting drunk driving rates within different states, as well as fatalities related to drunk driving. It's important to remember that Mississippi is rather rural, which means that it can be more difficult for accidents to be reported and for people to reach hospitals in a timely manner. But the more informed you are about your state's laws, and the more cautious you are when drinking, ensuring that you don't drive afterward, the safer everyone will be.