DUI penalties

penalties & punishments

Penalties and punishments for DUI (just like DUI laws) can vary from state to state and from case to case.  However, there are certain types of DUI penalties that are common.

In most cases, DUIs are misdemeanor cases.  (This is true particularly for first DUIs.) This means that they are less serious than felonies.  However, this doesn’t mean that misdemeanor DUIs aren’t serious.  In fact the DUI penalties for misdemeanor DUIs can be very strict.  In many states, misdemeanor DUI convictions can mean mandatory jail time (up to one year), mandatory ignition interlock device installation for up to two years, alcohol classes for up to two years, thousands of dollars in fines, driver’s license suspension for years and more.  Therefore, it’s very important that you contact a skilled DUI lawyer today to try to minimize the DUI penalties you could be facing.

There are, however, some cases that become felony DUIs.  In those cases, the penalties can increase exponentially.  You may face years in prison, driver’s license revocation for the rest of your life, thousands of dollars in fines and mandatory alcohol classes.  Obviously, a felony DUI can completely ruin your life.

There are also DUI penalties that aren’t often acknowledged, but can be just as devastating as jail and fines.  If you are convicted of a DUI – even a misdemeanor DUI – that conviction will stay on your criminal history for the rest of your life.  Most states DO NOT ALLOW DUI expungements, which means that a conviction for DUI will haunt you until the day you die.

We at DUIlawyers.co constantly get emails from people all over the country wanting to get rid of a DUI conviction on their record.  They say that it happened years ago and it was a one-time mistake.  Unfortunately, most of the time we have to tell them that there is nothing to do be done.  In fact, the conviction will stay on their record, just the same as a conviction for arson, rape or murder.

Why should you care?  Because your good name depends on having a clean record.  Future employers will be able to see this record and many times, you will not get the job.  Loan officers will check your background before lending money.  This means that you may not get the money for your home, your car or a new business.  Landlords routinely run background checks which means that the apartment you fell in love with won’t become your home.  There are also other reasons that a clean criminal record is imperative.  If you travel internationally, you may have a lot of trouble moving from the US to different countries.  In fact, Canada has strict laws about folks with a DUI on their record.  Many times, they aren’t allowed into the country.

So, what does this mean?  It means that DUI penalties can be life-long and shouldn’t be taken lightly.  If you’ve been arrested for DUI, contact an attorney right away.  It’s much easier to avoid the penalties of a DUI than try to clean up your past mistakes.  Take control of your DUI case and speak with a professional.  Our attorneys have experience helping folks just like you to get through this.  Contact an attorney today.  What have you got to lose?  The consultation is free, and it may be the best call you can make when it comes to your future.

Need additional help?  Don’t forget to check out our DUI resources page for more information about DUIs.