DUI First Offense Misdemeanor

If you have recently been arrested with driving under the influence, you may wonder if you will be charged with a felony or misdemeanor offense. If you have never been arrested for drunk-driving in the past, and there are no extenuating circumstances in your case, you may be charged with a DUI first offense misdemeanor.

In all 50 states, it is illegal for drivers to operate a motor vehicle with blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher. Due to zero tolerance laws, minors may be charged with DUI if they have any alcohol in their system. If a driver’s BAC is considerably over the legal limit, he or she may be charged with a DUI felony in some cases.

The penalties for a DUI first offense misdemeanor are typically far less than for a felony, which carries with it at least one year in state prison. Though the penalties for drinking and driving vary from state to state, most people who are charged with a DUI misdemeanor face jail time (no longer than one year), probation, fines, mandatory alcohol counseling, and the loss of driving privileges.

Your bank account can also take a hit if you are convicted of driving under the influence. When your auto insurance company learns of your DUI misdemeanor, it is more than likely that your rates will skyrocket. If the insurance company considers you too great of a risk, your coverage may be cancelled.

A DUI first offense misdemeanor will show up on both your criminal and driving records, which may be accessed by third parties. This can put you in an unfortunate position when searching for a job or applying for a loan.

It is important to remember that a DUI arrest does not equal a DUI conviction. There are several ways to beat a drunk-driving charge. For example, your attorney may investigate your breath test results in order to determine if they were accurate. He or she may also challenge the arresting officer’s testimony as well as the results of your field sobriety test.

It is important to contact an experienced DUI lawyer for  help with your DUI first offense misdemeanor case. A skilled lawyer can create a defense to get the best possible outcome for your case.