DUI Consequences - What to Expect When Driving Under the Influence

DUI Consequences are severe and need to be taken seriously. If you have recently been arrested for driving under the influence, you are facing a world of trouble. A DUI is a serious offense, made even more serious by the vehicular accidents that occur due to drunk driving each and every year.

When a person is arrested for a DUI, the state will usually throw the book at them. The thing is you could have killed someone or multiple people, even if you were the tiniest bit buzzed. So if you are convicted of a DUI, you will have a permanent mark on your record that will likely follow you around for the rest of your life.

Jail

The first consequence that tends to happen after a DUI arrest is jail. First, you will sit in the local drunk tank until you sober up enough to see the judge the next morning. After your hearing, bail will be set. If you can make bail, you will be able to go home until your trial date. But if you are convicted of the state's charges against you, you will likely face at least ten days in jail and you can sometimes find yourself in jail for thirty days or more, depending on where you live.

Fines

Not only will you be forced to go to jail for a DUI conviction, but you will also face a series of fines. The fines can range anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars and with a DUI conviction sometimes causing you to lose your job (more on that in a minute), you could find yourself in a world of financial trouble, too.

Your Driver's License

In most states, your driver's license will be suspended and you won't be allowed to drive for a few months. This can make it hard to get to work if you don't have other means of transportation. Not only that, but you will have to find a way to get to the grocery store and anywhere else you need to go, so it's a major inconvenience on your life.

Other Consequences

If you are convicted of driving under the influence, you will be required to take a drug and alcohol course that will teach you the dangers of drinking and drugs and of the dangers of getting behind the wheel when you've consumed either. In some states, you will be required to attach a breathalyzer type device to your car that you must blow into before you can start the car. If the sensor inside detects alcohol on your breath, the apparatus will record the incident so that your probation officer will know about it and your engine will lock, preventing you from driving anywhere.

In some cases, being convicted of a DUI can bar you from renting an apartment, from getting a loan and it can even keep you from getting certain jobs. You may also lose your job following a DUI if the business doesn't allow its employees to carry felonies on their records. These are all situations that you'd hopefully like to avoid. That's why you should try to find the best atto
ey possible to fight the DUI charges against you and minimize the impending DUI consequences that you will face.