Charged with a DWI? More Than Once?

DWI stands for driving while intoxicated. A person has committed this offense if they are intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place. Police make arrests for these charges when the operators of motor vehicles are revealed to have a blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.08.

Punishment for First DWI Offense

In most circumstances, this is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum term of confinement of 72 hours. If it is shown during the trial that the offender operating the motor vehicle had an open container of alcohol in their immediate possession, the offense is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum term of confinement of six days.

If the prosecution can prove that the accused person’s blood, breath, or urine showed an alcohol concentration above 0.15, the offense is upgraded to a Class A misdemeanor.

While each case is different and punishment depends on circumstances such as having other passengers in the vehicle or terrible events like death, first time offenders can expect penalties such as fines, license suspension or revocation, community service, imprisonment, education and intervention programs, and more expensive car insurance.

But what happens when someone is charged with DUI/DWI multiple times? How are repeat offenders prosecuted and punished if proven guilty?

Punishment for Repeat Offender DWIs

After the first offense, jail time typically ranges from 3 to 180 days. But after repeat offenses, the jail time rises significantly.

A second offense can range from one month to an entire year of jail time; the third offense ranges between two and ten years.

Along with an increase in jail time, those convicted of repeat DUI/DWI can expect fines up to $10,000, time in prison, longer intervention programs, and if they’re ever allowed behind the wheel again, the vehicle may be fitted with an ignition interlock device. Interlock ignition devices prevent a vehicle from starting until the operator passes a breath test.

Alcohol affects people differently based on how much they’ve drank, their weight, and even gender. Look at these blood alcohol concentration charts to learn more about how alcohol is likely to affect your body.

Have you been charged with multiple DUI/DWIs? You need an experienced defense attorney that understands best how to defend your case, and cares about your rights as an American citizen. Contact Sally Goodman Law to get stated on your defense today.