DUI Penalties

Driving under the influence is both dangerous and deadly to all those who are involved. If an individual driving under the influence does make it out alive, there are many penalties that accompany a DUI charge. Hopefully a little bit of knowledge on DUI penalties will help people to make the decision that they will never drink and drive and they will never ride with someone who is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Jail Time

Because of groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), laws concerning drunk driving have become much more firm over the years, and for good reason. One of the major DUI penalties is jail time, even if it is your first offense. Laws concerning drinking while driving differ from state to state, but typically jail time can last anywhere from two days to six months. Jail time is even longer for those individuals who have been convicted of a DUI more than once.

And, if an innocent bystander or other driver is injured or killed by someone who is driving under the influence, the individual charged with the DUI is faced with years in jail, even a lifetime sentence. While in jail, the convicted individual must take classes concerning DUI and perform many hours of community service.

Loss Of Civil Rights

There are many individuals who are charged with repeated DUI offenses. Penalties for these individuals are much severe. These individuals may even face losing some of their civil rights, such as voting, the privilege of owing a weapon, and loss of drivers license for a long period of time or even permanently. If an individual is lucky enough to reclaim their drivers license, the insurance rates on their vehicle/s rise significantly.

Fees

Not only do individuals who are charged with a DUI face jail time and loss of civil rights, they also must deal with legal fees that can reach into thousands of dollars. Even if it is your first offence, individuals typically face fees starting at approximately $1,000 going up to $25,000. For repeat offenders, the fees are even more drastic and can financially ruin an individual.

DUI School

Most anyone who is charged with a DUI receives a court order to attend a DUI school in the community. The length of the program and type of program will vary from state to state, but DUI schools are a mandatory part of an individual cleaning up their record and getting their drivers license back. DUI schools teach driving fundamentals and also teach the risks and dangers of driving under the influence. Most states require a minimum of six months of DUI school, while others require convicted individuals to attend the class for two years.