DUI Jail Time

Did you know that even if you have never been previously charged with drinking and driving, you may face jail time for your first DUI offense? Across the nation, lawmakers are passing tougher DUI laws and statutes, while law enforcement agencies institute crackdowns on drunk drivers.

If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving under the influence, or driving while intoxicated, it is important to contact an experienced defense attorney in your area. Besides DUI jail time, you face hefty fines, probation, community service, and a driver's license suspension if convicted of drunk driving.

In all 50 states, 21 is the legal drinking age. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) in all states is now 0.08 percent for drivers over the age of 21. Zero tolerance laws make it illegal for drivers under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with any alcohol in their system.

If a driver is convicted of driving under the influence, the judge has a maximum sentence that he or she may impose. In many states, the maximum jail sentence for a first offender is one year, though the sentence may be suspended. If a jail sentence is suspended, it means that the offender does not have to serve it unless he or she breaks the law again or violates the terms of his or her probation.

In some jurisdictions, there may be a minimum mandatory jail sentence for certain crimes. For example, if a driver was operating a motor vehicle with an excessively high BAC, the judge may be required to sentence him or her to a mandatory minimum five days in jail.

If a driver has been convicted of one or more DUIs within a certain time frame, the DUI penalty is even greater. He or she faces more jail time, higher fines, and may even be ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed in his or her vehicle.

Are you worried about facing DUI jail time? Having an aggressive DUI defense attorney on your side may mean the difference between sitting in a jail cell with other people charged with various crimes or retaining your freedom. Contact an attorney today to discuss your drinking and driving case.