Penalties for Drunk Driving
DUI or drunk driving is a serious offense in the USA. It is a very common sight late at night to see drivers getting pulled over with flashing lights, see drivers attempting to walk in a straight line, or indeed see drivers taking a breathalyzer test. The reason that the law enforcement officers are cracking down on this it ultimately to get intoxicated drivers off the road, and to save lives. These intoxicated drivers are not always facing their first DUI conviction. For many people it’s a recurring offense and many states have mandatory prison time for repeat offenders.
Penalties for DUI can be severe, especially if its not the first offence. The states in the US have all made 0.8% the legal blood alcohol limit. Above this point it is an offense to operate a vehicle. This only applies to adults age 21 or over. For drivers under this age it is an offense to have any alcohol in the blood. This is known as the Zero Tolerance law. Typical penalties for DUI include hefty fines, suspension of the driving license and jail.
For repeat offenders it is often a mandatory license suspension and some automatic jail time. If it is a state with a Habitual Violator law then the driver may incur a felony sentence for three DUIs. It may also include losing the right to drive for many years, or even for their lifetime.
Drivers who lose their license for a period can get it back after attending and completing schooling in DUI, and having their situation assessed. This assessment can include an interview with a counselor who amongst other things will determine the level of alcoholism. This may include a recommendation for entry into AA or another type of rehab program which may be residential offering detox and rehabilitation. For the driver to get his license back he will have to agree to and follow all recommendations made by the counselor. The fees for these programs will be charged to the offender.
The penalties for DUI can be very expensive, especially for those convicted of more that one offense. These costs can include fines, mandatory rehab, additional insurance, new license and legal fees. If there was an accident at the time of the DUI conviction then there will be additional damages liability too including injuries and death.
This article has been provided by the Ohio DUI Attorney who provides legal advice and help to Ohio drivers.
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