A DUI arrest is the legal consequence of being found driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A DUI arrest is considered a serious offense that is punishable by fines, loss of driving privileges, possible imprisonment, and a variety of other penalties. About two-thirds of DUI arrest cases involve a first time offender, meaning that a good number of DUI arrest offenders have committed previous wrongdoings.
DUI arrest affects hundreds of thousands of people every year. Approximately thirty percent of all Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related vehicle accident at some point in their lives. More than forty percent of all fatal vehicle accidents involve the use of drugs or alcohol.
DUI arrest law is governed by individual state law. There are, however, some basic facts about DUI arrest laws that hold true regardless of the jurisdiction where the offense takes place. A person may be subject to a DUI arrest if they are found operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or greater. Most states have zero-tolerance DUI arrest laws which make it a crime for a minor to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of any amount of drugs or alcohol.
When a DUI arrest is in progress, the alleged offender is required by law to submit to the chemical testing of their blood, urine, or breath. Refusal to submit to implied consent laws can lead to additional penalties in a DUI arrest. It is possible, under some DUI arrest circumstances, to choose the type of chemical test you will receive. During a DUI arrest, a person may also be subject to any number of field sobriety tests which, depending on the particular state’s DUI laws, may carry consequences should a person refuse to submit to the requests.
The penalties for a DUI arrest can be enhanced under a variety of circumstances. The following factors can increase the penalties in a DUI arrest: a child was in the car, the defendant was traveling at excessive speeds, the defendant’s BAC exceeded 0.20 percent, the defendant refused chemical testing, there was property damage or personal injury involved in the DUI arrest case, or the defendant has a prior DUI arrest.
A DUI arrest can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony crime. When the damage was caused the DUI arrest is almost always charged as a felony. The criminal penalties for a DUI arrest can include a minimum jail sentence, a fine, probation, and a number of other repercussions, such as DUI arrest classes, community service, and other similar measures. The Department of Motor Vehicles also punishes DUI arrest offenders. The DMV can revoke, restrict, or seizure a vehicle for a period of time. Multiple DUI arrest offenders may be required to spend a minimum period of time in jail, lose their license or have their vehicle impounded, and are often required to complete an alcohol treatment program.
If you have a DUI arrest, you may wish to speak to a professional DUI arrest defense attorney. There are many ways that this legal expert can defend your case in order to protect and maximize your interests. If you are interested in receiving more about DUI arrest information, please contact us to confer with a qualified attorney in your area.