Walk It Through: The Drive Home
A right on red after a full stop, no device in hand, and the line between impaired and intoxicated.
Driving home from dinner, a driver stops at a red light and turns right.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One drive and one stop. The chemical test and a refusal, commercial drivers, and repeat convictions are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Aggravated driving while intoxicatedDriving with .18 or more by weight of alcohol in the blood, or while intoxicated with a child of fifteen or younger in the vehicle.
- Driving while ability impairedDriving when the ability to drive is impaired by alcohol. On a first conviction, a traffic infraction with a fine of $300 to $500 and a 90 day suspension.
- Parking lotUnder the drunk driving section, a lot or driveway serving premises with room for four or more vehicles, where the section applies as on a public highway.
- Traffic infractionA category of offense of its own, separate from violations and crimes.
- Portable electronic deviceA device no one may hold while driving a moving vehicle to view, take or send images, play games, or compose, send, read or browse messages or web pages.
- Right on redA right turn on a steady red after a full stop at the line, yielding to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully in the intersection, unless a sign prohibits it.