A conviction on a DUI carries many different possible penalties. In most cases, the number and severity of penalties for a DUI arrest is directly reflected by the laws and statutes set by the state you live in or the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred. This is especially true in cases where the driver was proven to be grossly intoxicated or in cases where the intoxicated operation of the vehicle resulted in an accident, whether it caused injury or not. If you’ve been charged with a DUI, whether the charges are determined to be a felony or a misdemeanor charge, you need to be aware of the possible penalties, including the loss of your driver’s license.
DUI Arrest Penalties and Your License
The possible penalties for a DUI vary greatly from state to state, especially when the differences between misdemeanor and felony convictions are considered. In many cases a DUI is considered a misdemeanor if it is a first or second offense and if no damage to property or physical harm to another person occurred. If an accident occurred as a result of the intoxicated operation of the vehicle, whether the DUI caused the accident either directly or indirectly, or if the number of offenses you have committed is equal to or greater than 3, you may be charged with a felony DUI.
- A misdemeanor DUI charge in most states is punishable by up to 7-9 months imprisonment and anywhere from $500-1200 dollar fine. You may be placed on probation, required to pass a driver training class, and be assessed by an AODA counselor who could recommend either inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment. The court will generally order your license be suspended for a term of anywhere from 6 to 24 months.
- A felony conviction will carry much more severe consequences that may range from 1 to 5 years imprisonment and a fine up to $10,000, as well as anywhere from 1 to 5 years of supervised probation. The court can also order the permanent revocation of your driving privileges unless you complete both AODA counseling and a driver training course. In some cases, such as those that involve an injury or death of another person, the court may order the permanent revocation of your driver’s license without the possibility of regaining the privilege.
Getting Help
If you have been arrested for a DUI charge, no matter how severe the situation or how many past offenses you have had, your first move should be toward calling an experienced criminal attorney. Most courts will provide you with a State Public Defender if you don’t have the means of obtaining a personal lawyer, but you will benefit from hiring an attorney of your own choosing if possible as a qualified lawyer can assist you in getting charges reduced or dropped after a DUI arrest.
