If you have been stopped by law enforcement officers while driving while intoxicated – more commonly referred to as DUI – you should know that there will be legal consequences to your actions, not only short-term but long-term as well. According to Bojat Law Group, depending on the state you reside in, there are various legal consequences that you could be facing for driving under the influence, including the following:
1. You Could Spend Time in Jail
If you’re stopped while operating a vehicle under the influence, you’ll be required to take a sobriety test. In most cases, this means that you’ll be taking the so-called breath test. If the results are over the limits imposed by your state or if you choose to refuse the test, you’ll probably be taken into custody, meaning that you’ll be booked into jail, where you could remain for a couple of days.
2. Your License Might Be Suspended
As mentioned on the website of Bojat Law Group, no matter how high or low the breath test results are, your driving license will most likely be suspended, which basically means that you won’t have the privileges to operate a vehicle. The duration of the suspension will vary based on the laws different states have.
3. Your Vehicle Will Be Impounded
The car you were driving will probably be impounded and if you want to be in possession of it again, you’ll be required to prove that you own it, you’ll need the impound report, and you’ll also need to pay a lot of money for covering the impounding and towing fee, as well as the daily fee for them storing your vehicle.
4. You’ll Need to go to Court
Lastly, you’ll be assigned a court date where you’ll learn what your sentence is. Because you were caught DUI, it’s always best to hire a legal representative such as Bojat Law Group that specializes in such cases. You should know, the punishment you get will be decided by the judge assigned to your case.
What Happens if I End up Convicted?
There are various things that could happen if you end up convicted. For starters, you might be required to pay high fines – ranging from 600 to 2100 dollars. Second, your license might remain suspended for some time or completely revoked, and you should know, if the court doesn’t revoke it, the Motor/Vehicle Department might choose to.
Some states even choose to enlist you into a drunk driver educational program and they could add points to the license you have – which will increase your insurance. Lastly, you should know that you can be sentenced to jail time or to complete community service or you might end up on probation.
Conclusion
Driving while intoxicated should never be done, however, if you were caught, you should expect the consequences we’ve mentioned above. Since you now know what might be the result of your DUI, you shouldn’t lose any more of your time, instead, start looking for a lawyer that could make the entire process easier for you.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
