Operating under the influence, impaired driving, driving while intoxicated, DUI (driving under the influence), drunk driving – no matter how you phrase it, in the United States, it is illegal. In fact, around the world, it’s illegal in most countries. Unfortunately, first time DUI offenders and repeat DUI offenders are not uncommon.
Though, from state to state, drunk driving regulations may vary, relatively high penalties exist across the board. If, while driving under the influence, you injure or kill another person, it can lead to prison time, civil suits, heavy fines, and more.
The following are a handful of steps to take if you are a first-time DUI offender and you have received a DUI ticket.
You’re Going to Need Legal Assistance
The first step – hire an attorney!
Make sure your lawyer/attorney has experience with DUI cases. Precisely, they must completely understand and be familiar with your state laws regarding drunk driving. This way, you can navigate the confusion more easily and get a much clearer picture of where you stand and what’s to come. If you are having trouble finding an attorney, you can reference our resource list here.
Make Sure You Report to Court Dates
Do not ignore, nor decide to skip, any court dates. You want to put this incident behind you, so you must be serious about, and committed to, the belief that this will never happen again. If you have a court date, show up! If you don’t show up for your court date(s), you may face even more penalties than you already do, and your license could be completely and totally stripped from you, without hope of even a temporary license being issued.
Your DUI Sentence – You Must Commit to It
The judge is going to hand down a decision as to what your sentencing will be regarding your DUI conviction. If they tell you to do something – do it! Included in possible repercussions could be the following: classes, fines, license revocation, license restrictions, house arrest, and more.
Auto Insurance
Your auto insurance policy will likely terminate you after your DUI conviction. This is standard procedure. As soon as possible, you’re going to need to shop for replacement insurance. You may, in fact, be required to prove you have the right amount of insurance required by law by filing an SR-22 form.
It’s possible, for a minimum of several years, you’ll have to carry the form and your insurance card. Your state licensing authority may well be notified by your insurance carrier if your policy lapses.
Your Driver’s License
You may be able to get a temporary license after fulfilling whatever restitution the judge handed down in your case/conviction. This way, you can once again drive when needed. When the time comes that you are eligible for a permanent replacement license, you may also have to pay a reissuing fee.
Rehabilitation For First-Time Offenders
Given the current coronavirus pandemic, the best way for conducting treatment and rehabilitation promotion is through DUI telehealth sessions. If you are in need of a program such as this, we, at Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group, can be of assistance. For a limited time only, the sessions are conducted online, but are scheduled to revert to in-person sessions once the pandemic is more controlled.
If you have any questions, please check our FAQs section.
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