Criminal Law News

Driving while intoxicated is a dangerous act with some severe penalties.  The obvious harm that you could do to yourself or someone else while driving under the influence is back up by a litany of preventative penalties.

Suspended License: If you are arrested for a DUI it is very likely that you will have your license suspended for at least a few months.  Depending on your blood alcohol and the circumstances in which you were arrested, it could be more than a year.  Driving is definitely a privilege that can be taken away by the state.

Restricted License: Even after your suspension has passed, most judges will restrict your license for a set time as well.  A restricted license will limit you to driving to work, school, alcohol classes and a few other events.  If you are caught driving on a suspended or restricted license you could be adding time to your suspension or even go to jail.

Alcohol Classes: You will most likely be assigned alcohol classes for a 6-12 month period.  These alcohol classes are not only meant to teach you something about addiction and the dangers of DUI but also to disrupt your schedule.  The class days and times will change so you constantly have to adapt your daily routine.  The classes are mandatory and failure to complete them will only put you deeper into the hole.

Fines: If you have plenty of free time and don’t drive anywhere, you will still have to pay some hefty fines.  You are also responsible for paying for your own alcohol classes and other related courses.

There is some discrepancy left to the judge is almost all of these cases.  In order to limit your fines, suspension and class time you should seek an experienced DUI attorney.  It is very important to find a lawyer that will really fight for you.  Talk to some people who have hired an attorney.  Some will say they had great representation and others will say they never heard from them after they wrote the check.  The person you hire can make all the difference.