First Offense Drunk Driving Offenders

Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is extremely dangerous. Accidents can, and often do, occur as a result of driving drunk. Every day, people are seriously injured and even killed in drunk driving accidents. That’s why, even if it’s a first offense, every state has tough DUI laws and penalties.

An Arrest Does Not Automatically Lead To A Conviction

However, even though you may have been arrested for this crime, that does not necessarily mean you should be convicted of DUI. An experienced lawyer with a dedicated DUI defense practice will review your case to determine if any mistakes were made. For example, if police failed to read you your Miranda rights or did not have probable cause to stop you and/or proceed with a DUI investigation, your rights have been violated. With the help of your drunk driving defense lawyer, your DUI charge may be reduced or even dismissed.

In most first-offense DUI cases, you can expect to be charged with a misdemeanor. If you are convicted, you’ll face penalties that may include attending DUI school, substance abuse classes, driver’s license suspension, fines, community service and even jail time. However, depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, you and your attorney may decide to enter into a plea bargain to avoid jail time.

Even A First Offense Can Become A Felony

If you had any aggravated charges, you may be facing a felony and enhanced penalties. Examples of aggravated charges are other offenses that were discovered during a DUI investigation. If you were transporting a minor, speeding well over the posted limit, injured or even killed a person in an automobile accident, you could be convicted of a felony. In the unfortunate event that a person was injured or killed in an accident, you may be slapped with a civil lawsuit and may be required to pay restitution to the victim(s).