If you have been driving under the influence and law enforcement officers caught you in the act, you need to remember everything you should expect throughout the process.
Depending on numerous factors, you may end up with consequences such as loss of driving license, fines, and jail time in a worst-case scenario.
Simultaneously, it can lead to other problems such as increased insurance rates, among other things. If you wish to learn the difference between DUI and DWI, you should click here for more info.
Keep in mind that if it is your first time, and you never had any problems with authorities, you will get a mild conviction compared with people who have multiple convictions that will usually result in harsh penalties.
Even though most states across the US tend to categorize the first DUI as a misdemeanor, you should avoid underestimating the issues you may get after the first conviction and arrest.
When you get a certain charge, you will have to understand the process of the mandatory sentence and potential punishments, the nature of a charge, and long-term issues that may happen after a conviction.
Potential Consequences of First DUI Arrest
If this is your first time with law enforcement, you can rest assured because you will get probation. However, in some situations, a court can order you to serve time in jail, depending on the problem you created while driving under the influence.
Even if you had misdemeanor offenses, some situations require jail time depending on the state where you were during the arrest. Apart from the idea that some areas come with mandatory jail time, every single state across the US will suspend your license for a particular period.
Of course, the severity of conviction depends on your history, but you may get the license in the future so that you can drive to school or work.
At the same time, you will end up with other probation conditions, including court expenses, severe fines, urinalysis, and probation.
You may also get mandatory alcohol and drug counseling that will help you maintain sobriety and community service, among other things.
Similarly, as we have mentioned above, the first charge comes with particular reduced issues due to the good records you had beforehand.
However, it would be best if you remembered that other factors might change your charge’s nature and provide you with enhanced penalties and sentences.
For instance, if you had a bottle of alcohol inside your vehicle, you will end up with a mandatory jail sentence and increased penalties. In case a child was present in the vehicle while driving, you will end up with felony charges even if it is your first time.
Another problem that you need to face is the administrative elements that come with this particular charge. For instance, you will get a license suspension, which will affect your future in various aspects.
Check out this website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving to learn the latest regulations when it comes to driving under influence.
License Suspension Conditions You Should Remember
The easiest way to obtain your license after DUI issues is to deal with criminal law or administrative law judge. At the same time, you should avoid driving without a license because that will affect the penalties and lead to severe consequences.
In case you are caught during the suspensions, you will get additional fines and charges that will affect your situation. Some states will require you to install an ignition interlock device, which means that you will have to check your breath for alcohol before you can start driving.
However, if you neglect these conditions, you will end up in jail.
Long-Term Consequences
The worst thing about the DUI charge comes due to long-term consequences that can affect your situation. It does not matter whether you are on probation or not because the misdemeanor will remain on your record, and they can use it against you in future issues and potential charges.
Everything depends on the state you live in, but multiple DUI charges can lead to a felony offense, which means that you will go to jail and have proper employment issues in the future.
For instance, in Texas, a third DUI is a felony, while in New Mexico, they will convict you of a felony after a fourth DUI.
Car Insurance and Employment
The worst thing that can happen after a DUI charge is the inability to get suitable employment, which will affect your abilities to improve your lifestyle. The same thing goes for a car insurance policy.
Since this particular conviction will become a permanent part of your criminal history, most employers will conduct a background check and learn everything about it.
The large companies that wish to maintain their brand recognition avoid employing people with criminal records because they pose safety risks to the entire company.
Since everyone will consider you as a risk factor, you should know that after a DUI, your car insurance rates would increase as a result. In case your offense becomes a felony, the insurance companies will try to avoid covering the costs of a particular accident.
Remember that most policies tend to exclude damages that happened due to felonies and drunk driving offenses, among other things.
What Should You Do?
If you wish to avoid all potential penalties and consequences mentioned above, you need to fight this particular charge by finding an expert to help you with the process. Therefore, before the conviction, you need to get a Salt Lake City DUI attorney to help you with the process.
It is vital to act as soon as possible because having a DUI attorney can help you reduce the sentence to a minimum and avoid potential backlashes that may happen due to your criminal history.
We recommend you avoid taking charges lightlybecause your first arrest can reduce your chances of getting the right employment. Instead of taking everything that the court hands to you, we recommend finding an attorney to protect your case and reduce the sentencing.
That way, you can prevent potential consequences and get the right solution to future issues. It is as simple as that.
Attorney Sean P. Sullivan has over 10 years of experience in the fields of family law and business law. He and the DuPage County divorce attorneys of SBK Law Group provide dedicated representation for clients, helping them resolve highly contested disputes and find effective solutions to their legal issues.
