First Offense DUI in Hawaii

First DUI in Hawaii carries potential of both criminal and administrative penalties. Additionally, Hawaii provides enhanced penalties for offenders arrested with minor (child under age of 15) present in vehicle at time of stop while under influence. The following outlines these and other applicable penalties for adult drivers with private operator’s license, and in turn, juvenile offenders, underage adults in violation of zero tolerance laws, and commercial drivers will face varying penalties and should consult with legal counsel about their specific case.

Administrative Penalties

• Refusals to submit under implied consent laws in Hawaii result in mandatory license revocation of one (1) year

• First offense DUI in Hawaii results in administrative license suspension of ninety (90) days in most cases, with potential of restricted driving upon court’s approval. Offenders with a BAC above .15 must serve out full six (6) month suspension

• Ignition interlocks required during any restricted or hardship period while license suspended for first offense, and in addition, reinstatement requires use of ignition interlock device for period of one (1) year for first offense as well

Criminal Penalties

• First offense DUI in Hawaii requires no mandatory period of incarceration, but potential of incarceration of up to five (5) days with penalties doubled if minor present in vehicle at time of arrest

• Fines applicable to first offense DUI in Hawaii range from minimum of $150 to not more than $1,000, which includes an additional $500 if minor present in vehicle

• Sentencing likely to include community service mandates in lieu of incarceration, as well as mandatory alcohol/substance abuse education awareness courses as well

• Convictions influence sentencing and nature of charges of subsequent DUI arrests for a period of five (5) years

Talk to a Lawyer

Although the state of Hawaii bars by statute any plea option involving reduction of DUI charges to a lesser criminal offense, the state does not prohibit negotiating favorable plea deals or working towards outright dismissal of charges. Having legal counsel involved is essential in this highly case-specific process. For more information, consult with a first DUI in Hawaii lawyer.