Strict laws in Alabama uphold harsh penalties for any individual who chooses to get behind the wheel after consuming alcoholic beverages. These penalties are imposed upon anyone who is convicted after the prosecution presents clear evidence showing that he or she was over the legal limit at the time of the arrest. Anyone facing a DUI charge should hire a Criminal Law Attorney in Birmingham AL to represent them in these matters.
Penalties for DUI Convictions
Jefferson County upholds the state’s mandatory rulings for first-time convictions of driving under the influence. These penalties include imprisonment not to exceed one year, fines that range from $500 to $2,000, and no less than a ninety-day driver’s license suspension. Anyone convicted is additionally required to attend a state-approved DUI school which does report any absences to the county. In some instances, it is probable for the judge to grant a plead bargain for first-time convictions only in which the accused voluntarily enters a treatment program.
A second conviction in Jefferson County will result in no less than forty-eight hours and up to one year in jail. In some cases, the accused is retained in county lock-up initially for this forty-eight-hour period prior to arraignment. The assigned fines for a second conviction are between $1,000 to $5,000. Any conviction, including a first offense requires an extra $100 fine, that is distributed to the Impaired Driver Trust Fund, which assists in compensating families of victims. The second conviction additionally results in nullification of his or her driver’s license for one year.
The third and last misdemeanor DUI charge requires no less than sixty days in jail or assigned facility and no longer than one year; the first sixty days are not eligible for suspension. The driver’s license is nullified for three years, and fines range from $2,000 to $10,000. Unlike this third conviction, a fourth DUI reaches the classification of a class C felony.
These drivers are facing up to ten years in prison, fines from $4,000 to $10,000 and the revocation of their license for no less than five years. Any driver facing a felony DUI charge is advised to acquire a Criminal Law Attorney in Birmingham AL; they can accomplish this goal by visiting domain URL.
