If someone has a DUI on record and was given what's known as a 'Watson advisement,' or a warning that DUI can cause death, then he or she can be charged with DUI murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, as well as a fine up to $10,000. Gross DUI vehicular manslaughter could be four, six, or 10 years in a state prison, or 15 years to life if there are any prior vehicular manslaughter convictions or two or more DUI convictions on record, and up to $10,000 in fines. A felony DUI vehicular manslaughter charge (determined by the level of negligence) could mean 16 months, two years, or four years in prison with an additional three to six years if other victims were also seriously injured, as well as up to $10,000 in fines. In California, state officials take the issue seriously and depending on the level of offense its punishment can be severe.Ī misdemeanor DUI vehicular manslaughter will result in up to one year in jail and about $1,000 in fines, as well as license suspension.

It's no surprise the most populated state also has the highest number of deaths caused by drunk driving. In 2017, California topped the list of impaired driving-related deaths at 1,120 fatalities caused by drinking and driving in that state alone. More than one million people per year are arrested for breaking Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws in the States, and each state has its own ways of handling its offenders, with varying jail sentences and fines as it aims to reduce the number of deaths caused by drunk drivers.Ĭlose to 11,000 people are killed by drunk drivers each year.

There are an average of 29 deaths per day caused by drunk drivers in the United States - that's about one every 50 minutes.

Drunk drivers killed in america