Everyone know that drinking and driving is a bad idea. However, the law changes every year (usually after July 1).
The consequences change as well.
The worst consequence is killing/seriously injuring someone else. The next is doing this to yourself.
There are also rather severe consequences in 2015 if you convicted of DUI. While some people avoid convictions based on a numbers of factors, those who are convicted face the following penalties:
(This is a non-exclusive summary of such penalties)
1. FIRST DUI IN 10 YEARS OR LIFETIME
– 12 months of probation; Possibility of 24 hours in jail or more; community service; $300 – $1000 fine plus statutory “add ons”, which means more money; DUI school; possibility of alcohol/drug evaluation and treatment (A/D eval.).
2. SECOND IN 10 YEARS
– 12 months of probation; 72 hours in jail or more; community service; $600-$1000 fine plus add ons; DUI school; A/D eval.; Ignition Interlock Device (IID) if the DUI is at least a 2nd DUI in the past 5 years; Embarrassing picture in the newspaper and surrender of vehicle tag if the DUI is the 2nd in the past 5 years.
3. THIRD IN 10 YEARS
– 12 months of probation; 15 days in jail or more; community service; $1000-$5000 fine plus statutory add ons; DUI school; A/D eval; IID if the DUI is at least a 2nd DUI in the past 5 years. Embarrassing picture in the newspaper and surrender of vehicle tag if the DUI is the 2nd or more in the past 5 years.
4. FOURTH IN 10 YEARS
– 1-5 years of probation; 90 days in jail or more; community service; $1000-$5000 fine plus statutory add ons; DUI school, A/D eval.; IID if the DUI is at least a 2nd DUI in the past 5 years. Embarrassing picture in the newspaper and surrender of vehicle tag if the DUI is the 2nd or more in the past 5 years.
Drivers who are 21 or older and are convicted of a 1st in 5 DUI will also suffer a suspension of their driver’s license at the time of conviction under most circumstances. However, these drivers will usually be immediately eligible for a “temporary limited driving permit.” These permits are only useable for 120 days and limit the purpose of driving to work related travel and other some other exceptions.
Also, keep in mind that if a driver receives a yellow, legal sized piece of paper at the time of arrest, he or she must take immediate action in the form of a letter to the DDS with a $150 payment to avoid an almost immediate suspension of the driver’s license.
These actions are usually taken by police officers when the driver refuses the state’s administered test (not field sobriety tests) or has a 0.08% blood alcohol content.
Drivers who are 21 or older who are convicted of a 2nd in 5 DUI will not be immediately eligible for a limited permit. However, after 120 days, these drivers can get a limited permit if have an IID installed on their vehicle.
Drivers who are 16 years of age to 20 are not eligible for these type of permits and will receive a “hard suspension.”
Additionally, drivers with CDL licenses will suffer a license suspension for 1 or more years. This can ruin the livelihood, family, and many aspects of a normal life for truck drivers and other folks who rely on their CDL to operate trucks on the job.
This is just the “nutshell version” of the consequences surrounding a DUI conviction. There are other legal and collateral consequences (loss of job, going to court, dealing with the Department of Driver’s Services, etc.) that can occur.
The simple solution to all of these problems is to not drive anything after even one sip of an alcoholic beverage.
Hopefully, at least 1 person will consider these severe consequences before cranking up that automobile after drinking alcohol.