There are many other consequences to being arrested for driving while under the influence. For instance, you can have your driver’s license revoked, pay for the cost of a criminal trial that includes attorney fees as well as a very high fine if convicted. Fines for driving under the influence vary states, but it can average from $800.00 to an overwhelming $10, 000. As well, depending on the seriousness of the charges, such as causing the death of another person, you can receive a long prison sentence. You can also lose your driver’s license for a certain period of time. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or beyond a level of 0.08 percent.

Driving under the influence can seriously affect the amount you pay for your insurance premium. A DUI arrest or conviction will cause a significant increase in your insurance premium. As well, your insurance provider may even terminate your policy. A DUI conviction does not disappear after a certain number of years. It stays on your criminal and driving record indefinitely, except if you have it expunged. Your employer and insurance companies can all view the criminal record. Some employers will fire an employee convicted of a DUI.

A rundown of possible consequences include:

• Revocation of drivers license automatically if you refuse or fail BAC test.
• 1st Offense sentenced to as much as 6 months in jail and fined as much as $750. Suspension of license for 90 days.
• 2nd Offense imprisonment of not less than 7 days no more than 6 months in jail and fined as much as $750. Suspension of license for 1 year if 2nd offense happens within 5 years of last offense.
• 3rd Offense jail time of not less than 30 days and a fine of $3000. Suspension of license for 3 years.
• 4th Offense is now a felony punishable by 2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
• Impounding of vehicle after conviction for DUI

These consequences are the result of the Zero-Tolerance laws that were implemented in 1995. As well, the insurance companies have complete authority to take action such as policy termination and raising your premiums.

In most states, the insurance provider will check for DUI convictions every three years as part of their normal operating system. Drinking and driving is dangerous and can cost a person their life. The best life choice is to refrain from ever driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Save a life, including your own, as well as your freedom and money.

So stay safe on the streets to save lives and to avoid these long-term consequences.

Driving under the influence, DUI, is a funny offense. Not funny-haha, clearly, but funny-awkward, because it falls in a strange place in the legal system. See, it would seem that a DUI is pretty cut and dry. You blow into a breathalyzer, bam. There’s the evidence, there’s the conviction. You were driving with blood/alcohol level over the limit. Guilty, right? Well, not necessarily. A lot of people only get lawyers to help them through their court proceedings, but they don’t bother finding a lawyer who may actually help reduce the charges, because they think there is no point. They drove while drunk, they’re guilty. However, this is not the right attitude to take. Now, we’re not saying you should really go for it and lie, cheat the system, and find a lawyer who will get you off. Again, DUIs are cut and dry. You broke the law, you’re going to have to pay for it somehow. But, a good DUI lawyer can really assess the entire situation and reduce the sentence or the fine, or change it to be a different charge. Basically, you have to pay for your mistake (because let’s face it, it’s a severe one) but you don’t want that mistake to haunt the rest of your life.

What is a DUI Lawyer?

A DUI lawyer specializes in DUI cases just as any other lawyer has a specialty, like malpractice. It’s so important to find a DUI lawyer specifically, because this is their entire career. They have so much valuable experience in defending DUI cases, and because it is their focus, they know ins, outs, details, and fine print that more lawyers of more general practices may not know. Their experience allows them to see every angle.

In any state, you’re looking at some tough charges for a DUI. It’s a serious offense. The right DUI lawyer can get your sentence lowered to a fine, community service, and/or counseling, perhaps directly through AA. Plus, of course the uniform loss of license for six months – although, a DUI lawyer can help your chances of getting a conditional license so you can commute to and from work.

Who should seek out a DUI Lawyer?

Pretty self-explanatory. Anyone who gets arrested for driving with a blood/alcohol level over the limits set by the state the arrest takes place in. You will go to court, you will be charged, you need a lawyer.

What are the benefits of using a DUI Lawyer?

An ideal situation would be if the arresting police officer has made a mistake. Maybe he or she didn’t breathalyze test you both on the scene and at the police station, so the reading may be inaccurate. Maybe he or she was out of his or her jurisdiction. Whatever the case, a good DUI lawyer can get the case thrown out, or reduced, under these circumstances. Remember this should still be a wake up call (ie: stop drinking and driving!!), however you now won’t have to deal with the penalties, or at least not with all of them.

A DUI can seriously affect the rest of your life. It could result in jail time, job loss, losing your driver’s license, increased insurance rates, impounding of your car, probation, community service, and alcohol education/counseling, among other things. The courts will make sure you pay the price somehow, and no lawyer can change that. But a good DUI lawyer can get the charges down to what is manageable, whether that’s a conditional license so you can still make a living, forgoing jail time for community service, etc. You want to protect yourself, because no matter what, you have the right to. Make sure the price you pay isn’t so high you can’t overcome it for years to come. By finding a DUI lawyer in your state, you’re recruiting someone who knows every law regarding DUI in and out. This is a priceless resource.

What are the risks of using a DUI lawyer?

Well, there are no risks of using a DUI lawyer, directly, but you have to remember that the lawyer will be an aid, not a miracle. You broke the law, you will pay somehow. A DUI lawyer cannot make the charges go away if there’s hard evidence like breathalyzer results. But he or she can help you, and can take care of all the things you may not even think of. He or she can reduce charges or find mistakes in the prosecution. You just have to be realistic.

The only thing to watch out for with a DUI lawyer, as with any lawyer or even any service, is cost. Make sure you are thorough and careful with fees. A lot of lawyers charge more to actually fight the case, say if the police were out of jurisdiction and you want the entire case thrown out. Set a budget you can actually afford and work with your lawyer. This is time to pick your battles. You will get the most out of being completely honest, straightforward, and realistic with yourself and your lawyer.

It is true that receiving a DUI can cost you a hefty sum. The total financial cost of a DUI includes court costs, fees for a DUI lawyer, increased insurance premiums (up to $3,000 per year over your insurance costs without a DUI), car impound fees, the ticket itself, and court-ordered programs or testing. These fees can easily reach into several thousand dollars.

A DUI will also be emotionally draining; this cost can also end up affecting your family. You may feel embarrassed or even ashamed because of your conviction. If you injured anyone while you were driving under the influence then the toll on your emotions will be even bigger. There is also a possibility that you will hurt yourself while driving under the influence which is another cost few people consider. If you do cause an injury to anyone while behind the wheel then you could be sued separately for these civil suits.

There aren’t just the emotional and financial costs attached to the DUI that you must content with; you must also deal with the court-ordered commitments such as attending a DUI school, participating in community service or attending a victim impact panel. It’s also possible you’ll need to serve time in jail or prison. These kinds of programs also have financial costs you must deal with like work time loss and court-related programs. If you have a DUI conviction on your record, some potential employers can and will will turn you down.

Another significant cost of a DUI is the revocation or suspension of your driving privileges. In some cases, this may even be automatic upon your being stopped for a DUI. At the end of the suspension, you’ll need to pay a fee to have your license reinstated. You may be required to pay for an ignition interlock system if you wish to continue driving after a DUI.

There are lots of costs which are associated with a DUI; some of these are short term costs while many of them last for a very long time. If you get convicted with a DUI then this can change your entire life. By hiring a DUI lawyer you should be able to minimize the costs and risk of getting convicted. DUI attorneys can be expensive however they are normally well worth it. If you are arrested for a DUI then hiring a DUI attorney can greatly improve the chances of success as they have lots of experience dealing with similar cases. Of course, the real “solution” to this problem is to not put yourself in it in the first place by not driving when you drink.