Most moving violations lead to tickets. People who forget to use their turn signals, who do not stop at a red light or who exceed the speed limit may receive a citation from law enforcement professionals. They pay the tickets and move on with their lives.
While insurance companies can see recent citations, traffic tickets generally do not turn up during background checks for employment or renting an apartment. However, more serious traffic violations are actually crimes. People accused of driving under the influence (DUI) offenses face prosecution in the criminal courts. If they plead guilty or get convicted, there are numerous penalties that the court could impose.
What are the potential criminal consequences of a DUI conviction?
Fines
Financial penalties are common in DUI cases. Judges can order defendants to pay fines of between $300 and $5,000. The prior record of the driver and the presence of aggravating factors influence the amount of the fine. Additionally, drivers convicted of DUI offenses typically have to cover court costs in addition to the fines ordered as a penalty.
Driver’s license suspensions
Committing a major moving violation is grounds for the temporary elimination of driving privileges. The courts can suspend a driver’s license after a DUI conviction. A first-time DUI without any aggravating factors could cost someone their license for up to a year, while third offenses can lead to a five-year license revocation. If the person accused has a commercial driver’s license (CDL), a DUI conviction makes them ineligible for a CDL for a year. Repeat offenses may make them permanently ineligible.
Jail time
Incarceration is often the biggest fear for those facing DUI charges. They do not want to give up their freedom or risk losing their jobs as they serve a jail sentence. A first-time DUI without aggravating factors might lead to up to a year in jail, although drivers often serve as little as 24 hours in jail. However, more serious DUI charges carry longer sentences. Third DUI offenses could increase the minimum time in jail to 15 days.
Fighting DUI charges is often better than pleading guilty and accepting whatever penalties the courts impose. Defendants may need help assessing their situation to determine the possible penalties and the defense strategies available to them, and that’s okay.
