The DWI Charges and Penalties You Can Expect for Drunk Driving

Were you recently arrested for a DWI?

You are probably feeling a little embarrassed, and if you spent a night behind bars, you might have experienced an evening you’ll never forget.

Unfortunately, self-recognizance and a sleepless night is rarely the only penalty for Driving While Intoxicated.

In the months and sometimes years following DWI charges there will undoubtedly be plenty of disruption in your life.

Besides all of the court dates and other scheduling, you could face fines and court costs well over $10000 and in some states a minimum of 10 days in jail for your first offense.

If you have recently been charged, here are the DWI charges and penalties you can expect for drunk driving.

Lost License

Every state in the country will put severe restrictions on your ability to drive a car after a DUI.

Typically, your physical driver’s license is revoked after your arrest.  In the days, weeks and months that follow you may be able to get a hardship license to continue driving back and forth to work, court and medical appointments.

So, long as it is your first offense, you should be able to regain your driving privileges within 60-90 days, but it could be as much as a year.

A DWI defense attorney will help you arrange for a minimal amount of disruption to your life, but you should expect some serious driving restrictions for sure.

Court Costs

While the fines associated with drunk driving can be as little as $500, there will also be court costs, including paying for your lovely night in the slammer.

Expect to pay somewhere between $2500 and $10k in fines and costs before your case is resolved.

Of course, navigating the legal system with the help of a professional may end up costing less even including legal fees.

Insurance Costs

In addition to the penalties and fees that the court will charge you, prepare to have your insurance premiums raise a good deal.

Your car insurance company will consider a DWI to be equal to or greater than a reckless driving ticket.

Prepare to have your rates doubled, or even tripled and to be dropped entirely from your carrier in some cases.

Plenty of Lost time

Expect to take a good deal of time away from your regular schedule to deal with a DWI.

There will probably be multiple court dates to deal with, and every jurisdiction has a different process for dealing with a driver convicted of a DWI.

Chances are you can expect a multiple-day course in safe driving and alcohol abuse.

If you don’t have to spend any more time in jail, you will almost certainly have to do some community service as well.

What To Expect with Your DWI Charges

As you can see, if convicted of a DWI you can expect lost money, lost time and loss of freedom.

DWI charges can result in the most restrictions of all non-felonies.

However, by using this resource for finding an expert, you may be able to avoid some or all of the costs and penalties mentioned above.