DUI consequences vary from state to state; however, the same general concepts are found in all states. Most states are becoming very harsh on offenders because of the sheer lack of judgment and threat of bodily danger(to the drunk person or innocent bystanders) involved in these kinds of incidents. In addition to all the legal consequences of drunk driving, it can take a hefty toll on your emotions if you become the cause of an accident while under the influence, especially if you take someone else’s life. I’ve known a few people that have been on both sides of this coin. While sometimes there is nothing you can do to ensure someone does not crash into you while drunk, you can definitely ensure you do not crash into someone while drunk. Take a cab instead.
There are plenty of DUI consequences, and bear with me I will get to them, but what are the laws that involve getting a DUI? First of all, the legal drinking age is 21 and anyone under the age of 21 can automatically receive a DUI, or at least a zero tolerance citation depending on the situation, if they have been driving with even the smallest amount of alcohol in their system. For people of the legal drinking age, the allowed blood alcohol level is below .08 in most states across the United States. If you’re visiting me from another country, please visit this link and check to see if your country is listed. Anything beyond that and you can receive a DUI. “Hardcore drunk driving” refers to people driving with a BAC of .15 or higher.
The consequences of drunk driving are different depending on your age. For people under the legal age of 21, the law and judges much more stringent with their zero tolerance policy. If you are arrested for a DUI under 21, your license will be confiscated, and you can request to get a restricted license until the time of your hearing that will allow you to drive to and from school or work. You may not get approved for this, it all depends on the circumstances surrounding your arrest. Usually, your license will be suspended for a minimum of a year, or possibly until you are 21. You may also face jail time; however, if you can obtain a good lawyer, that can improve your chances of not getting jail time and will have to complete some community service, probation, classes, or some other program in lieu of jail time.
In addition to the above serious DUI consequences, one of the major financial burdens of getting arrested for a DUI is that you have to carry a special type of insurance when you do get your license back, called SR22 car insurance, which carries a much higher premium than normal car insurance. You do not have to keep the SR22 forever, but once you get back to your regular insurance chances are quite high it’s still going to cost more. All these consequences are based on a first offense, for subsequent offenses, the chance of jail time is extremely likely. Drinking and driving comes with a lot of consequences if and when you get caught. The lesson to learn isn’t to avoid getting caught, but to not drink and drive above the legal limit, because the consequences of drunk driving really aren’t worth it, especially if you end up taking another person’s life.