In most states, if not all, so far as I know a DUI or DWI offense stays on your driving record forever, so if you’ve gotten one, be warned, if you are so foolish as to drive while impaired again and get caught and are prosecuted, you will suffer several consequences — a mandatory week in jail, there’s no avoiding that, it’s automatic for a second conviction, you will also most likely receive a sentence of one-to-three years, which may be suspended, in which case you will be placed on supervised probation for the length of the sentence time, although according to how you conduct yourself during your probation, your probation officer may determine to take you off supervised probation after a year or so — but you will still be under probation for the suspended sentence, and regardless of your probation status as supervised or unsupervised, a future infraction during the probation will result in the sentence being carried out.
And you will lose your driver’s license for four years on a second DWI/DUI offense. You may apply for a hearing with a DMV adjuticator in two years to try to get your license reinstated, but you will need a lawyer, a whistle-clean record since your conviction, to be sober (not drinking) or at least be able to convince the judge/adjuticator you are sober (that you gave up drinking), and a fair amount of luck. Most who try to get their license restored early fail to do so.
A quick recap/summary of what will happen if you face a 2nd conviction:
Automatic mandatory week in jail. No avoiding it!
Jail sentence one-to-three years. usually (not always!) suspended.
Probation for length of sentence, at least first year supervised.
Four year revocation of your license.
Not to forget fines (hundreds of dollars), court costs and lawyer fees (substantial).
Now, next time you’re considering going out drinking, weigh the costs of a cab and/or a tow truck against the costs of a conviction for DWI/DUI.
Now, try to calculate the costs of a human life. One f**kup because you’re under the influence can bring down tragedy on you and others beyond any measure. The life you save may be your own, but quite frankly, and I feel sure I speak for almost everyone on this, we don’t care so much about what you do to yourself, but we care very much about what you might do to us.
Sources:
personal experience — I hate to admit it, but it’s true. It was a long, long time ago, and never will I again be so stupid! Fortunately, it was a simple citation only!!! I really don’t drink much these days, and never to excess; and if I want to go out, say to catch a band at a bar, I either walk, get a ride, or hire a cab. If I plan to drink anything stronger than cola, the car stays home. If I decide at the bar to "have a few" then the car stays in their parking lot and I catch a ride home with someone who is sober, or call a cab, or walk.
P.S. A 3rd conviction will cost you two weeks in the county slammer, at least one or more years active jail time followed by years of probation, a permanent revocation of your driver license (you can try for a hearing after 7 years to see if you can get it back), and higher fines and lawyer fees.
And every DWI/DUI conviction stays on your record forever and follows you wherever you go.
In most states, if not all, so far as I know a DUI or DWI offense stays on your driving record forever, so if you’ve gotten one, be warned, if you are so foolish as to drive while impaired again and get caught and are prosecuted, you will suffer several consequences — a mandatory week in jail, there’s no avoiding that, it’s automatic for a second conviction, you will also most likely receive a sentence of one-to-three years, which may be suspended, in which case you will be placed on supervised probation for the length of the sentence time, although according to how you conduct yourself during your probation, your probation officer may determine to take you off supervised probation after a year or so — but you will still be under probation for the suspended sentence, and regardless of your probation status as supervised or unsupervised, a future infraction during the probation will result in the sentence being carried out.
And you will lose your driver’s license for four years on a second DWI/DUI offense. You may apply for a hearing with a DMV adjuticator in two years to try to get your license reinstated, but you will need a lawyer, a whistle-clean record since your conviction, to be sober (not drinking) or at least be able to convince the judge/adjuticator you are sober (that you gave up drinking), and a fair amount of luck. Most who try to get their license restored early fail to do so.
A quick recap/summary of what will happen if you face a 2nd conviction:
Automatic mandatory week in jail. No avoiding it!
Jail sentence one-to-three years. usually (not always!) suspended.
Probation for length of sentence, at least first year supervised.
Four year revocation of your license.
Not to forget fines (hundreds of dollars), court costs and lawyer fees (substantial).
Now, next time you’re considering going out drinking, weigh the costs of a cab and/or a tow truck against the costs of a conviction for DWI/DUI.
Now, try to calculate the costs of a human life. One f**kup because you’re under the influence can bring down tragedy on you and others beyond any measure. The life you save may be your own, but quite frankly, and I feel sure I speak for almost everyone on this, we don’t care so much about what you do to yourself, but we care very much about what you might do to us.
Sources:
personal experience — I hate to admit it, but it’s true. It was a long, long time ago, and never will I again be so stupid! Fortunately, it was a simple citation only!!! I really don’t drink much these days, and never to excess; and if I want to go out, say to catch a band at a bar, I either walk, get a ride, or hire a cab. If I plan to drink anything stronger than cola, the car stays home. If I decide at the bar to "have a few" then the car stays in their parking lot and I catch a ride home with someone who is sober, or call a cab, or walk.
P.S. A 3rd conviction will cost you two weeks in the county slammer, at least one or more years active jail time followed by years of probation, a permanent revocation of your driver license (you can try for a hearing after 7 years to see if you can get it back), and higher fines and lawyer fees.
And every DWI/DUI conviction stays on your record forever and follows you wherever you go.
It won’t ever clear off your record.