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DUI Penalties

Know the Risks of a DUI Conviction

You undoubtedly already know that a DUI conviction can mean driver's license suspension, increased automobile insurance rates, and even jail time. But if you're facing DUI charges following your DUI arrest, regardless of whether you were or were not involved in a DUI accident, it's important that you have a DUI attorney in your corner who can help you understand what's at risk and explore possible challenges in your case.

DUI laws are constantly evolving, and few of those changes work in favor of the DUI defendant. New laws in many states have increased the penalties for underage drivers who have any trace of alcohol in their systems, increased the penalties for drivers whose BACs are higher than a certain level (typically .15 or above, but this varies from state to state), increased the penalties for drivers who are under the influence with a minor child in the car, with a passenger, or who injure someone while driving, and increased the penalties for subsequent DUI convictions. For specific information on your state’s DWI penalties and what they may mean to you, speak to a local DWI lawyer as soon as possible.

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DUI Penalties Imposed by the Court or by DUI Law

Some penalties you may face if convicted of DUI include:

  • The loss of your driver's license
  • Probation
  • Community service
  • Substantial fines
  • Suspension of your license plates
  • Seizure of your vehicle
  • Mandatory drug and alcohol education classes or counseling
  • High risk insurance requirement
  • Installation of an ignition interlock system on your car
  • Jail or prison time
  • Civil liability for any bodily injury or property damage you cause

Additional Risks of a DUI Conviction

A DUI conviction may also carry indirect penalties, such as increased automobile insurance rates and limitations on future employment opportunities. Of course, employment opportunities may be naturally limited by the transportation problems created by a DUI license suspension, but increasingly the conviction itself may preclude work in certain fields or with certain companies.

It may come as no surprise, for instance, that in many states a person with a recent DUI conviction can't obtain a commercial driver's license or drive a school bus. In fact, in Texas a person with a DUI conviction can never drive a school bus, even if that conviction is ten or twenty years in the past.

However, with legal penalties for DUI convictions increasing, the powerful lobby of organizations like MADD bringing constant publicity to the issue, and the growing ease with which employers can conduct criminal background checks, that impact is spreading beyond fields directly requiring a clean driving record.

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In short, the penalties and other consequences for drunk driving are serious, and you need serious attorneys to handle your DUI case. If you (or someone you know) have already been arrested or charged with a DUI offense, don't delay. Call our 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1 (877) 349-1311 to speak to an experienced DUI lawyer.

You can also take our free, online DUI case assessment. Simply enter some details about your DUI arrest or case in our secure online form and we'll get back to you shortly to provide you with a reasonable fee estimate and to discuss the possibility of our representing you.

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