DUI’s are very common between the ages of 21 to 40 years old.
Drivers of this age receive the highest number of charges.
1. What is a DUI?
A DUI is driving under the influence offense of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while being impaired by alcohol or drugs, to the extent that it makes you incapable of operating a motor vehicle safely.
DUI’s is something that we see with people in their twenties because they are now legal enough to drink alcoholic beverages. When driving intoxicated you can hurt not only yourself but others around you because you are not aware of your surroundings.
Don’t make the mistake of having a fun night out with your friends make you end up hurting yourself and others. People tend to you either get their car demolished by the crash, hit another car, injure themselves, or get themselves and someone else killed because they thought they could handle their alcohol.
2. What happens when you get a DUI?
Once you get arrested, court appearances, fines, and fees start to begin.
A DUI can take a toll on your relationships, job, social life, financial stability, and mental health. It is very common for people took get anxious or depressed after their first DUI. Once you are arrested, you’ll be taken to a police station or jail and you will be fingerprinted and photographed.
You will get a ticket and a court date that you will have to appear to face driving under the influence charges. As bad as it sounds even if it is your first time getting charged with DUI, your sentence will include: losing your license for a period of time.
If you are convicted of driving while intoxicated, part of your sentence will definitely include paying a fine. All states have laws setting minimum and maximum fines for drunk driving, but those penalties can be enhanced by other circumstances. For example, if the property was damaged, someone was injured, or a child was endangered as a result of your driving while drunk, the fines can be increased.
Even if you have not been sentenced to any jail time you have to be on probation. If you fail to serve your probation you will be put in jail. Undergoing alcoholic evaluation is something you have to go through to be able to get your driving privileges back. You will have to complete an alcohol and drug education and assessment program.
In most states, if you get a drunk driving conviction, you will have to get a special insurance policy, known as SR-22 insurance, before you can drive a vehicle. The cost of SR-22 insurance, in states where it is required, can double or even triple your premiums.
After that, you also have to install an ignition interlock device. This device requires the driver to have alcohol-free breath test results before the vehicle can start. This device is not cheap either, you are spending between $70 to $150 a month.
You have to start taking care of your mental health so that you can prevent this from happening again. There’s no shame in getting help if you think you have a problem with alcohol or mental illness. Seeking counseling can help you cut back or quit drinking and offer strategies for coping with the emotional trauma that can accompany a DUI.
3. How can you prevent DUIs?
Drink nonalcoholic beverages and if you are going to drink, know your limits.
If you are going out alone, do not drink any alcoholic beverages drink something else.
When you have friends around that are drinking, do not feel pressured to drink. If you do end up drinking, do so responsibly and eat plenty of food, and drink water.
If you notice or a friend notices you are drunk let them take you home or have them call you a Uber.
Meason & Ramsey Law provides a professional experience for all our clients, helping them navigate their legal rights. Our focus is criminal law (felony and misdemeanors). We specialize in Criminal Law, Divorce and Family Law, Probate Law. We are currently accepting cases in Washington, Nowata and Osage counties. Meason & Ramsey Law has family lawyers, divorce lawyers, probate lawyers, criminal defense lawyers, DUI & DWI lawyers, co-counsel lawyers, family attorneys, divorce attorneys, probate attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, DUI & DWI attorneys and co-counsel attorneys. Marty Meason and Rodney D. Ramsey, Attorneys
Meason & Ramsey Law
515 Delaware Ave
Bartlesville, OK 74003
918-336-6300