If you were recently pulled over for erratic driving, the police officer might have given you a breathalyzer test and determined you were driving under the influence, also called a DUI. This is a matter taken very seriously and not something the local authorities take lightly. If convicted, you might face some of the following penalties.
Fines
While the exact penalties for DUIs depend on a number of factors, including where you got the DUI and what your blood alcohol content (BAC) was, fines are a very common penalty. In fact, if this was your first offense and your BAC was only slightly above the normal level, your DUI will most likely only have a DUI penalty. The amount you need to pay is also determined by the factors surrounding the DUI and what state you live. Expect to pay hundreds or thousands for your fines.
Revoked Driver's License
This isn't a penalty with everyone who gets arrested for a DUI, though it might be your penalty if you had a high BAC level. This is because you put others at a greater risk of injury or even death by driving with a high blood alcohol content. You may lose your driver's license for a certain period of time, or under certain conditions. For example, you might be asked to complete an alcohol program before getting your license back, or might need to be without a license for a specific period of time, after which you have to re-apply for it.
Alcohol Rehabilitation
Even if you don't have to go to alcohol rehabilitation to get your driver's license back, the judge might still order it. This is a common penalty for people who have repeated offenses, since you are showing great irresponsibility with drinking and driving. It is also possible that the judge orders rehab in place of going to jail as long as you agree to it and show that you have completed the rehab program.
Prison
Lastly, you might also need to serve a prison sentence. This is more common with someone who had a more serious offense tied to the DUI. For example, if you were found on the side of the road after having blacked out while driving, caused a serious accident, or nearly hit a person or object, you might have to serve jail tie. This is also more common if you have had multiple DUI offenses.
For further assistance, contact a local criminal law attorney.
Share29 January 2016
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