Each day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk driving crashes. This means someone dies every 45 minutes from drunk driving. This doesn’t even account for the injuries that occur.
Getting caught for drunk driving has a variety of consequences because it can cause everlasting damage.
What are the penalties for driving under the influence? Keep reading to find out.
First-Offense DUI Convictions
The penalties for driving under the influence depend on the number of prior convictions among other factors.
In most states, the first DUI or DWI conviction is a misdemeanor. It is punishable by up to six months or a year in jail.
A few states have a maximum jail time that is shorter for a DUI. Pennsylvania is one of the very few states where a first DUI doesn’t carry any jail time.
Repeat Offenses
With a second and subsequent DUI, the maximum possible jail time increases. The mandatory minimum jail sentence is also longer than it is compared to a first offense.
Colorado is unique when it comes to repeat offenses. The minimum jail time is five days for a first offense, 10 days for the second, and 60 days for the third offense.
However, the maximum jail time is one year no matter the number of offenses.
Aggravating Circumstances
There are other circumstances that can affect how much jail time you get for a DUI conviction.
Some states punish drinking and driving depending on a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If the BAC is particularly high, jail time could be longer.
Many states increase penalties for DUI charges when an accident occurs as well.
A DUI or DWI is classified as a felony if the drunk driver killed or injured someone. It might also count as a felony if the driver has many prior DUI convictions. The specifics depend on state law.
Whether or not the offense is a DUI or DWI will also affect the consequences. Read more about their differences now.
Fines
Drunk driving convictions almost always result in fines. The fines vary by state but the same factors that would increase jail time also increase the fine amount.
DUIs with certain aggravating factors also tend to carry higher fines.
Most states have fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 for the standard first DUI conviction. Fines get well up into the thousands for multiple convictions and aggravating factors.
License Suspension
An offender has a good chance of having their license suspended for a period of time. The court or the state motor vehicles department might mandate this as a punishment.
Suspension penalties also tie into how many prior convictions a driver has.
If a driver refuses to take a urine, blood, or breath test, it can also result in a license suspension.
Penalties for Driving Under the Influence Explained
The penalties for driving under the influence vary by state and typically depend on the number of prior convictions a drunk driver has.
The more convictions, the more jail time or higher the fines will be. In some circumstances, DUIs can count as felonies rather than misdemeanors.
Refer to the rules in your state to get a better idea of the specifics. For more informative posts like this, check out the other articles on our website.
