What happens if you get a DUI?

Driving under the influence is not something you want to be caught doing but if it's also good to know what's going to happen and what will the consequences be. ⁠ ⁠While in most states a first-time DUI will be a misdemeanor, it will still have serious consequences both short-term and long-term.

If you are ever arrested for a DUI you need to understand that there are not only punishments such as a suspended license, or even jail time but it will have an impact on your life most definitely financially with higher insurance, but you may also restrict your ability to get certain jobs as well.

You will be arrested and booked.

This Is always the first step in a DUI, you will be arrested and will be given a ticket or summons immediately at your time of the arrest.

If you say refuse a sobriety field test or a breath or blood test there will be consequences such as an immediate ban for failing to supply a breath test.

Once at the police station you will be photographed, fingerprinted and, booked. In some states, you can be released immediately if someone can post your bail and drive you home.

In a growing number of states, jail terms are mandatory even for first-time offenders.

If there are any aggravating circumstances during the arrest such as resisting arrest these penalties can be increased greatly.

You will have to go to court.

When you were arrested you will have been given your court summons, this will give you the date and time where you have to appear in court on to face your DUI charges.

In today's courts, if you plead not guilty, the chances are they will play Body-Cam/Dash-Cam footage of you failing your field sobriety test.

You will lose your driving license.

In every state even if it's your first DUI you will lose your license for some period of time.

Even if a hardship license is available in your state to drive to work or college during the time your license is suspended, your privileges will be limited drastically.

You will have to pay a fine.

If your convicted of a DUI part of your punishment will almost certainly include having to pay fines.

Minimum and Maximum fine amounts differ from state to state and these fines can be increased depending on other mitigating circumstances.

These circumstances might include:

Probation / House Arrest

Even if your fortunate enough not to have to serve any actual jail term you may have to serve a period of probation or house arrest instead, the terms of which would be determined by the sentencing judge, some judges are naturally tougher than others when it comes down to DUI's.

If you are sentenced to house arrest you will have to have an electronic tag fitted, and also pay a monthly subscription fee for the tag.

Typically there's also a monthly fee you must pay whilst on probation.

Alcohol and Drug Education / Assessment Program

In almost all states if you want your full driving privileges restored to normal after a DUI you'll have to complete an Alcohol and Drug Education / Assessment program.

A counselor will evaluate both your level of alcohol consumption to determine if you have any kind of alcohol dependency/addiction, typically during your evaluation your evaluator will ask you a series of questions that are designed to see what kind of impact alcohol is having on your life.

Depending on the results of your evaluation you may have to attend court-ordered rehab, which can help you develop an understanding of your relationship with alcohol and what impact it having on your life, this will include both support and also methods you may use such as mindfulness.

Your Insurance Will go Up Big-Time!.

In most states, after getting a DUI you'll have to get a special type of auto insurance known as an SR-22 before you can drive a vehicle.

Expect your insurance premium to double or even treble or quadruple, this, unfortunately, will be the case until the offense is spent after 10 years

Having to install an Ignition Locking Device

It is becoming common in most states that once you have a DUI conviction and get your license back you will be required to install an ignition locking device these devices require that you breathe into the device in order to get your car to start. You will have to pay the cost of the installation and it will come with a monthly subscription cost that will quickly become very expensive.

Conclusion

It's simple really, don't do it in the first place, we are living in the 21st century now with the advent of ride-sharing apps such as Uber and Lyft you really have no excuse.

It's better just not to do it in the first place, you will be not only saving yourself a world of pain but you may be also saving a human life because that's as bad as this could have ended up.