An alcohol DUI conviction can have lasting repercussions, such as criminal record and increased insurance rates. An experienced DUI attorney can help you fight to reduce these penalties.
Attaining all DUI charges seriously, even first time offenses. But that doesn’t mean trying to handle it yourself.
What is a DUI?
DUI stands for driving under the influence, or DWI for short, which refers to any illegal action by someone operating or controlling their motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs such as marijuana, as well as legal prescription medications like sleeping pills. Some states also have laws against driving while impaired by other substances like these – some states also forbid driving while impaired by legal prescription medication such as sleeping pills or marijuana.
First-time offenders usually opt for misdemeanors as these tend to be less serious charges; however, any further violations could incur severe prison penalties as well as long-term repercussions for your future.
Although penalties vary between states, DUI convictions will have serious repercussions for your life. Your license could be suspended and ordered to attend drunk driving prevention classes as well as having to install an Ignition Interlock device on your vehicle.
Upon being found guilty of DUI, your license will be suspended for 12 months and fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 may apply in addition to 48 hours to 6 months in jail time. Furthermore, an alcohol highway safety program and evaluation by a licensed counselor may also be mandatory to ensure you do not develop more issues later on in life.
What happens if I’m arrested for a DUI?
An arrest for DUI can be terrifying and unnerving, affecting every aspect of your life from work, family, finances and reputation to travel ability and ability. Even first time offenses may have lasting repercussions for individuals involved.
When arrested for DUI, police will confiscate your license and, depending on state laws, may require you to stay in jail until someone bails or releases you on own recognizance – an ordeal which may even extend over a weekend! This can be very distressful.
If you are involved in an accident, police will collect a statement from you at either the scene or hospital – depending on the extent of your injuries they could charge you with vehicular manslaughter and other serious offenses.
Once the investigation is complete, your attorney can negotiate with prosecutors to have your charges dropped or reduced. One method of doing this is through a diversion program; this allows you to avoid criminal records by agreeing to undergo alcohol evaluations and counseling sessions. If this doesn’t work out for you, court appearances may follow wherein a guilty plea will be entered with fines/fees assessed accordingly; additionally if your DUI results in suspension of driving privileges an ignition interlock device (IID) must also be installed – see also step 6 below).
DUI penalties vary widely by state, but all DUI offenders face fines, license suspension and possible jail time for their convictions. A first offense DUI may incur fines in the range of $500 to $2,000 with fines increasing with prior convictions or aggravating factors involved.
First-time offenders of DUI face jail time depending on several factors, including their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) when arrested, whether they were underage and any extenuating circumstances that may have Jail time may often be avoided since many states consider DUI to be misdemeanor offense.
An offense such as DUI can create long-term records that make finding work or renting an apartment more challenging, leading to higher auto insurance premiums and perhaps even difficulty with accessing health care coverage.
Many states also impose jail time and financial penalties upon drivers who violate state law, along with installing an ignition interlock device into their car. An ignition interlock is essentially a small breathalyzer which must be used before driving to test for signs of alcohol or drugs use; any driver refusing a breath test will see their license immediately suspended but can often obtain a restricted driving permit that allows for travel between work or school locations.
How can I fight a first offense DUI?
Expectations you should keep in mind if arrested for DUI. First step should be obtaining an experienced lawyer with knowledge regarding DUI cases who can review your case to ascertain if probable cause existed for initiating traffic stop, as well as if police officers followed appropriate procedures during investigation process. Individuals can help defend themselves from being caught driving drunk by designating a driver when drinking at bars, restaurants concerts parties etc.