Posts Tagged judgment
How To Stay Safe At Christmas Party
There cannot be anyone out there who is not aware of the dangers involved in drinking and driving. The issue has been the subject of major television campaigns and there are now warnings and guidelines on most bottles and cans of alcohol regarding the number of units we can drink before becoming unsafe to drive. However, it seems that these measures have not been nearly enough to curtail the issue of people getting behind the wheel after having more than the legal limit of alcohol and putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk of injury and death. But what are we legally allowed to drink when driving? What are the effects of drinking on our ability to drive? What are the penalties of being caught over the limit and what is the best approach to use when drinking on a night out?
The legal limits?
Current law states that we should not exceed more than 80mg of alcohol for every 100ml of blood in our body. As a rough guide this means that women would be allowed 3 units (roughly equivalent to one large glass of wine) and men would be allowed 4 units (roughly equivalent to 2 pints of beer). However, these guidelines are not rigid as the amount of time alcohol takes to be released from the blood stream varies significantly from person to person depending on their weight, height, build and metabolism.
The effects of drinking on our driving ability?
The effects of drinking on our ability to drive should not be underestimated. Even one glass of wine can affect our judgment, reactions, co-ordination and our vision. In addition, a person that has had an alcoholic drink before getting behind the wheel is more likely to take risks which could increase the chances of being involved in a collision. It is an untruth that coffee or a cold shower will help to sober you up; neither of these will speed up the process of the alcohol leaving your bloodstream.
What are the penalties of being caught driving whilst over the limit?
If you are caught driving whilst over the legal limit of alcohol, do not expect to get off lightly. As well as losing your driving license for at least 12 months you could be fined up to 5,000, you could go to prison for up to six months and you could have to pay increased amounts for your car insurance.
The best approach to staying safe.
If you are planning on a night out or two over the festive period, or at any other time throughout the year, the best approach to use to ensure your safety and the safety of others is the common sense approach. If you are driving home, don’t take any chances – stick to soft drinks all night. If you do wish to drink alcohol make plans in advance as to how you will get home; book a taxi, arrange a designated driver or ask a friend or family member to pick you up. Make use of specialist companies that arrange to drive you home if you have drunk more than you planned – or book yourself into a hotel. Do not be fooled into thinking that you will be safe to drive the next morning. Alcohol takes a certain amount of time to leave your system and if you have consumed a significant amount then you could still be over the legal limit 24 hours later.
Despite the heightened awareness over recent years of the dangers of drinking and driving it remains one of the UK’s biggest killers on our roads. Christmas time sees the highest number of casualties resulting from drink drivers and we all need to be proactive in ensuring that we comply with the legal limits that are in place and constantly use the ‘common sense’ approach when enjoying our time out.
A Divorce Glossary
Divorce lawyers and law firms can provide a great deal of divorce information and divorce advice; but sometimes, all that legal jargon can be confusing to say the least, not to mention intimidating. Getting a good, low cost divorce settlement requires planning and research.
So, why not start here? We have provided you with a good glossary of legal terms related to the process of getting a divorce:
Alimony
A regular support payment by one divorced spouse to the other
Annulment
A court declaration stating that a legal marriage never existed
Arbitration
Having a disputed matter settled by a third party who is not a judge.
Attachment
A court-ordered seizure of a debtor’s property.
Attorney at Law
A state-licensed advocate who is hired to prepare, manage and try a case in court.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
A process of negotiation, mediation and arbitration, in life of a trial, as a way to resolve issues pertaining to a judgment of divorce.
Case Information Statement (CIS)
A financial document specifying the details of your respective incomes, expenses, assets, and debts.
Child Support
Money paid by one ex-spouse to another toward their child’s expenses.
Common Law Marriage
A marriage without a license or ceremony in which the couple cohabitated for a minimum number of years (varies from state to state).
Default
Failure to do something (such as make a payment) on time.
Discovery
The legal procedures used to gather all the facts necessary to settle a case or to prepare the case for trial.
Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
The legal separation of a married couple so that each one may be free to marry again.
Equitable Distribution
A fair division of the assets acquired during your marriage.
Inventory and Appraisement
A list of jointly-owned property along with the current value of each one.
Joint Legal Custody
An agreement in which a divorced couple share the rights and responsibilities of making major decisions about their child’s life.
Joint Physical Custody
The shared right to have a child live with one or the other parent at different times of the week or year.
Judgement of Divorce
A legal document following a settlement or trial that grants a divorce and states the court’s decisions with regard to alimony, support, custody, visitation rights, and equitable distribution.
Maintenance
Alimony or child support payments
Marital Settlement Agreement
An out-of-court agreement that resolves all issues surrounding a divorce.
Mediation
A process by which a dispute is resolved and an agreement between two parties is reached with the assistance of a disinterested third party known as a mediator.
Non-Marital Property
Property that belongs exclusively to either the husband or the wife and, as such, cannot be divided between the two.
No-Fault Divorce
A divorce granted with the mutual agreement of two spouses, or when one spouse has left the marriage for a certain period of time (varies by state).
Rehabilitative Alimony
Alimony that helps the ex-spouse to become self-reliant.
Separation
The absence of one spouse from the household before a divorce.
Separation Agreement
A temporary agreement with regard to support, child custody and property for the period between the onset of separation and the granting of a divorce.
Spouse
A husband or wife
Support
Payment due to one spouse from the other regarding housing, food, clothing, and other expenses.
Transfer
To switch legal ownership from one person to another.
Verification Statement
An oath declaring that the information stated in a document is true.
Visitation
The right for a non-custodial parent to visit his or her child.
