Have you been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in the past? If so, you know that this has a way of turning your life upside down.
Despite the fact that you may have made this mistake before, it doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily avoid the same in the future. It’s possible that you could become a repeat offender, in which case you’ll be worried about a more serious punishment.
Generally speaking, punishment for a DUI conviction includes one or more of the following:
- Fine
- License suspension or restriction
- Jail time
- Probation
- Community service
- Completion of a drunk driving course
- Installation of an ignition interlock device
What to do after a DUI arrest
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in the past, it’s safe to assume that you have an idea of what the legal system will require of you and how your case will move forward. While you may know what’s coming with respect to the administration of your case, the actual punishment can be different.
Habitual offender penalties are much more serious. For example, a second DUI conviction could lead to a larger fine. Even more so, you could face an automatic felony DUI charge if you find yourself arrested for this crime once again.
There are other circumstances that lead to harsher penalties, such as:
- If the defendant refuses to submit a chemical test to determine his or her blood alcohol content.
- If the blood alcohol level is extremely high, such as .20 percent or greater.
- If the person was driving in a reckless manner while drunk.
- If a child was in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.
- If the incident resulted in an accident that caused serious injury or death to another person.
Since there are so many questions with regard to the penalties associated with driving under the influence, you must know which steps to take if you find yourself in this position. For example, there are things you will be required to do if you want to get your driver’s license back.
In addition to understanding your legal rights and potential punishments, don’t hesitate to focus on the types of defense strategies you can employ.
When you make all the right moves after your DUI arrest, you can help avoid the most serious punishment.
