People in a variety of situations may find themselves facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges. Some people cannot tell when they have had too much to drink. Others may fail a chemical test after a car crash. In some cases, a mass enforcement sobriety checkpoint might be the reason a motorist gets arrested.
Regardless of what led to the DUI charge, the driver is at risk of serious consequences. Anyone planning how to respond to a pending DUI charge needs to consider the penalties that the courts could impose before making a decision about how to proceed.
What are the possible consequences for a DUI offense?
Multiple factors influence the penalties possible
DUI statutes are slightly different in every state. As such, drivers in Georgia face slightly different criminal penalties than those accused of a DUI in Alabama. The same basic penalties are possible regardless of jurisdiction.
Typically, the courts might sentence people to incarceration or probation. They may impose financial penalties in the form of fines and court costs. It is also standard to suspend a defendant’s driver’s license after a conviction or guilty plea.
The penalties imposed depend on whether the incident involved harm to others, a particularly high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or a driver with multiple prior convictions. Even minor passengers can lead to more serious consequences.
When looking at a first-time offense without aggravating factors, a driver in Georgia could be at risk of up to one year in jail, $1,000 in fines and a year without driving privileges. The same offense in Alabama could result in as much as a year in state custody, $2,100 in fines and a 90-day driver’s license suspension.
Those with high alcohol levels, prior charges or other aggravating factors are likely to face much more serious penalties. Given the escalating consequences imposed with each subsequent offense, it is often in a defendant’s best interest to respond assertively even to a first DUI charge.
Looking over the state’s allegations and discussing what happened before an arrest with a skilled legal team can help people plan a potential DUI defense strategy. Motorists who respond appropriately can reduce their risk of a life-altering DUI conviction.