Depending on the state, there are a slew of things the defendant of a DUI has to do.
Drivers could face the suspension of a license, probation time, alcohol counseling or diversion classes and even jail time depending on the state laws.
Anyone charged with their first DUI, you should not go into your case with the attitude that they can get off without facing serious consequences just because it is their first offense.
Most states have mandatory penalties for first offenders that can have a lasting impact on your ability to drive, obtain a commercial license and even find a job. In some states, your first DUI record means an automatic suspension of your driver’s license.
- A first DUI offense in Alabama can bring possible jail sentence of up to a year, fines between $600 and $1200, and a license suspension of 90 days
- The first DUI conviction in California means you will be required to serve a jail sentence of at least 96 hours, pay up to $390 in fines and have your driver’s license suspended for six months.
Also, depending on the blood alcohol level the penalties could be more severe. Jail time for a DUI conviction can go from a maximum of 30 days in jail with a BAC of .08 to .1, over .1 BAC can bring bigger fines and a longer maximum jail sentence — up to a year in some cases.
Getting your license back is also a problem — most states require a diversionary course SR-22 insurance and an additional fee to get a suspended license reinstated. Insurance rates will also jump to an average of $1,000 more than normal payments per a year.
If safety isn’t a good deterrent for not drinking and driving, the extreme cost, time and effort needed after a DUI should be. Even if you get the best DUI lawyer to expunge your record, you’ll pay nearly the same amount you would — but you’ll be free of the hefty felony charge on your record.