DUI First Offense
Protect Your Rights and Your Freedom – Get a DUI Attorney Right Now!
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a serious offense across the country. Some states treat a DUI first offense more severely than others but it always a serious charge. According to some websites the cost of bail, fines, and lawyers fees can approach $20,000. And that doesn’t include the cost of missed work, getting back and forth to your hearing, or the DUI classes you may be required to take.
The state will provide you with an overworked public defender. Someone who likely has too many defendants to give your case and your defense the attention it deserves. Obviously, if you can’t afford an attorney than a public defender should be better than no attorney at all. But before you decide you can’t afford an attorney get a FREE Consultation from an attorney regarding your DUI first offense.
DUI: First Offense
If you are thinking that the state will go light on you because this is your first time then I wish you the best of luck. I certainly wouldn’t count on mercy from a DA or judge in today’s political climate. For many offenses today, the state or national government have handed down mandatory minimum sentencing from on high – they don’t judges using their judgement. So even if you were barely over the limit with multiple mitigating factors get legal advice – starting with our free consultation services where we match you with a local DUI attorney.
DUI Sentencing Factors for your First Offense
What fate awaits you after your first DUI offense?
- All states have lowered the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit from 0.10 to 0.08% for adults
- All states have passed Zero Tolerance laws which prohibit drivers under 21 from having any alcohol in them
- Many states have mandatory jail time for repeat DUI convinctions
- Fines have gotten larger over the years
- Length of license suspension has gotten longer over the years
- And getting a hardship license for work is more difficult
Aggravating Factors
Aggravating factors will likely lead to a more severe punishment. These factors include:
- level of impairment
- severity of harm caused – i.e. accident with lamp post or accident that kills a station wagon full of kids
- the presence of minors
- driving through a school zone while under the influence
- refusal to submit to field sobriety tests
Mitigating Factors
Mitigating factors will, sometimes, make the court go easier on you. These factors include:
- level of impairment
- no accident/no harm caused
- personal hardships
- character references
- military service
- willingness to enter drug and/or alcohol education
- willingness to enter a treatment program
DUI First Offense Resource Material
The following webpages were useful at the time this page was created: