Legal Issues Related to a Drunk Driving Charge

Drunk driving is very serious. The potential for danger is high and you could do great risk to yourself or to other innocent drivers and pedestrians. Even if you get lucky and don't cause an accident, if the police find you driving under the influence of alcohol, you can be arrested and face potentially serious consequences. As such, before you make the decision to get behind the wheel, you must understand the potential legal issues that drunk driving can create for you. 

Consequences of Drunk Driving

Drunk driving is not just a traffic violation. It is a criminal matter and if you are found to be driving drunk, you will have to go to criminal court and you will have a permanent criminal record in many states. You could also face potential jail time. Generally, a drunk driving charge in most states can be classified as either:

• A misdemeanor
• A felony

Misdemeanors are less serious and usually carry a potential jail sentence that is a maximum of 18 months in length. You may not get any jail time for a first DUi, or you may get a few days to a few months in jail. You may also have to pay hefty fines and court costs, do community service, participate in victim panels where you listen to victims of drunk driving accidents, undergo drug or alcohol counseling, be required to have an ignition lock put on your vehicle to check your BAC, or face other potential legal penalties. 

Felony misdemeanor charges are usually issued when you have multiple DUIs or when you have caused an accident as a result of driving drunk. Some states will also charge you with a felony if your BAC is way over the legal limit. Felony DUI can carry penalties of more than a year in jail, even larger fines, plus all the consequences associated with misdemeanor DUI.

In addition to these criminal charges, in many states, you automatically lose your license for a period of time as a result of a DUI. This is an administrative action in some states that is handled through the DMV and the license suspension is usually automatic and begins immediately upon your arrest. 

Getting Help

The consequences of even a single DUI arrest can change your life. If you have been caught drunk driving, you need to get the help of a qualified attorney so you can understand what, if any, options you have to fight the charges or to lessen the severity of the penalties you are facing.