Drunk Driving Laws

For a person who is convicted of drunk driving, the penalties can vary from state to state. In addition, the penalties are usually different for a first time offender than they are for someone who has multiple counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. In fact, in some places a DUI or multiple DUIs can be a misdemeanor, while in other places it actually puts a felony on your record.

For first time offenders, a DUI means losing their drivers license for a period of time. This can be from 30 days to one year depending on the state. In addition, the rules of getting the license reinstated are also different. On top of losing driving privileges, all states have a monetary fine that accompanies the punishment. This fine can be as little as $200 dollars in many states. However, in other states the fine can be as high as $1,000 for a first time offender. In Texas, the fine can be as high as $2,000.

Now, for those individuals who are caught on multiple occasions driving under the influence of alcohol, the punishment increases. It is important to note that there are no hard and fast rules across the states. Each state is free to determine how it wants to punish the act of driving drunk.

A general idea, however, is that the first two or three charges of DUI are actually misdemeanors. After a third or forth DUI, then the rules usually change. In many states, the DUI then becomes a felony, which brings harsher sentences, including jail time, to the offender.