ESL Podcast 1022 - Being Cited for a DUI

attorney - a lawyer; a person who has earned a degree in the study of law and is officially allowed to represent others in legal matters

How much did you have to pay the attorney to write that contract?

DUI - driving under the influence; a citation (ticket given by police) for driving a vehicle after having drunken too much alcohol or taken drugs

If you don't want to get a DUI, hand me the keys and I'll drive you home.

to handle - to be responsible for something and process it or otherwise take care of it

How are we going to handle the costs of training the new employees?

case - a lawsuit; one legal argument between two parties

Most of Deborah's cases are related to family law and child custody.

penalty - a punishment for breaking a rule or law

The penalty for returning a library book late is a late fee of $0.50 per book per day.

first offense - the first time that one breaks a particular rule or the law, or the first time that one is found to have done something illegal

The judge chose a mild punishment because it was the boy's first offense.

to fine (someone) - to tell someone that he or she has to pay a certain amount of money, especially as a punishment for something he or she has done

According to U.S. law, anyone who copies a DVD may be fined up to $250,000.

probation - a period of time when one would normally be held in jail, but is released under supervision as a reward for good behavior or because the crime is not very serious

Chad was released on probation, but if he breaks any laws, he'll have to go back to jail for the remainder of his sentence.

restricted - limited in some way; not fully allowed; not free and able to do what one wants

Access to this information is restricted to people with special permission.

mandatory jail time - a period of time that one must spend in prison as a consequence of committing a crime, without the judge having any power to shorten that period of time

The crime has mandatory jail time of three weeks, but she might be in jail much longer if the judge decides to issue a harsher sentence.

driver's license - a small card that officially allows someone to drive a vehicle, usually issued by the state government

Shelley passed the driving test and got her driver's license on her 16th birthday.

suspended - temporarily ended; without power or validity for a certain period of time, especially as a punishment

Ricardo has been suspended from playing on the team for the rest of the semester because he was using illegal drugs.

severe - very harsh and serious; extreme in a negative way

Cutting off someone's hand for stealing a loaf of bread is a severe punishment.

to revoke - to take something away; to remove permission, undo a promise, or break a commitment

When the company was found guilty of corruption and attempted bribery, all of its government contracts were revoked.

alcohol treatment program - a program that tries to help people break their addiction to alcohol so that it no longer controls their life

The alcohol treatment program teaches people to call their mentor when they feel the need to drink.

deterrent - something that discourages someone from doing something; a disincentive

The store uses security tags on its most expensive items as a deterrent to thieves.

behind bars - in prison; in jail

Jesse was behind bars when his daughter was born, so he didn't get to see her until she was much older.