There are many legal and practical consequences of a DUI conviction that can follow you for a long time and make life difficult. Whenever you’re facing a DUI charge, you should work with an attorney who specializes in this area of the law. The range of penalties for DUI varies by state, so make sure you are working with an experienced DUI attorney who may be able to reduce the impact of some of these consequences.
- Emotional. Being charged with a crime induces stress. You suddenly have a number of tasks to complete and the outcome is unknown. If convicted of DUI, the level of emotional stress will increase dramatically. Be sure you have a good stress management plan to deal with all of this.
- Financial. Not only will you have to pay your lawyer, but court costs and mandatory alcohol classes can also drain your wallet. To make matters worse, most states require that drivers convicted of DUI carry special insurance, known as SR-22, which warns insurers that you could be high risk. This will cause your car insurance premiums to go way up, and the effects can last quite a while.
- Incarceration. In many states, even first time DUI offenders can serve jail time in addition to fines and other requirements. Sentencing is largely left up to the individual judge, so the amount of time served varies widely from case to case.
- Driver’s license. Even first time offenders may risk losing their driver’s licenses for a certain amount of time. This can make daily life difficult unless you have alternate transportation to get to work, run errands, and socialize. It also means a loss of some independence, which can exacerbate stress levels.
- Community service. Many cases involve some level of community service at sentencing. The number of hours you will have to complete will vary depending on the details of your case and the judge making the decisions.
- DUI School. Most people convicted of DUI will be ordered to take mandatory drug and alcohol classes, also referred to as “DUI School.” These can be both expensive and hard to work into your schedule, especially if you’ve lost your license and are dependent on others to drive you around.
- Extenuating circumstances. In some cases, the details of the case warrant additional jail time and higher fines. If this is not your first DUI offense, if you were transporting a minor in the car while intoxicated, if you caused an accident or had excessive levels of alcohol in your blood, these factors could result in more severe consequences.
The consequences of DUI conviction can be both taxing and long-lasting. Make sure you know the DUI laws in your state, and that you are working together with your attorney to reduce as many of these possible penalties as you can.