DUI Penalty

DUI Penalty

For anyone stopped and charged with DUI or driving under the influence, it is a good idea to hire a DUI defense attorney to fight the charge. The penalty for driving under the influence is more than a legal penalty and can be far reaching.

There are four main areas to consider:

1. Court Ordered DUI Penalties

If convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a person faces a fine, jail time, community service, and/or suspension of driver's license. The more times that a person is charged with and found guilty of DUI, the greater the penalty. First time offenders often receive a fine and brief jail time with the jail time suspended upon completing community service or attending driving classes. People found guilty for a fourth or fifth time are likely to receive sentence of a year or two in jail. Actual penalties vary state to state and case to case.

2. Driving Record And Criminal Record

Clearly, a conviction for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be on a person's driving record. But unlike most driving violations which remain on a driving record for three years, a DUI may remain on a driving record for ten or more years. In fact, some states do not remove the conviction from a driver's record.

A conviction for a third, forth or fifth DUI is serious and may result in a sentence in jail for a year or two. With the sentence in jail comes a criminal record.

3. Insurance

A conviction for driving under the influence will cause a person to be classified as a "high risk driver". When an insurance company finds out about a DUI, the insurance company will either raise the insurance rate or cancel the policy altogether.

In most states, a person convicted of DUI will be required to obtain a SR22 from an insurance company, and many auto insurance companies do not handle SR22. The result is that the person convicted of driving under the influence may have to find a new insurance company and pay a much higher premium for the insurance.

4. Employment

Depending on a person's employer, a person convicted of driving under the influence may be fired. This is primarily applicable to employment that involves driving. However, when employment requires a security clearance, a DUI can affect the security clearance. If there is a question, a person can check his/her employee handbook.

Because the penalty for DUI can affect so much of a person's life, anyone stopped for and charged with driving under the influence should consult a DUI defense lawyer. This is especially true if it is a person's first offense because there is a possibility that, if the case is handled properly, the penalty can be greatly reduced.

The above is general information only. If you have any questions about DUI or driving under the influence, talk with a DUI defense attorney licensed in your state.

Stop! Get more information here on DUI - Driving Under The Influence. And click here for more insights on How Prosecutors Prove Driving Under The Influence.

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