| Cindy is 19 years old. One afternoon, she has one beer | | | | highway. |
| with a couple friends, and then she drives her little | | | | And - depending on the circumstances - you might |
| sister to a friend's house. Along the way, the police | | | | have to spend more than a few days in jail. And you'll |
| stop her because a tail light is out. Guess what? She's | | | | need money for bail, for the cost of towing and storing |
| arrested, taken to jail, and the car is impounded. Later, | | | | your car, and for a lawyer familiar DUI cases. |
| she's convicted under her state's new Zero Tolerance | | | | It could cost you thousands of dollars to deal with the |
| law, designed to discourage teens under 21, who are | | | | slightest offense. And it's probably going to cost you |
| not legally allowed to drink, from drinking and driving. | | | | tens of thousands of dollars in increased insurance |
| She loses her license for a year, she has to perform | | | | premiums over the next five to ten years. |
| 40 hours of community service, and she has to attend | | | | If Someone Is Hurt |
| a driver safety course for three months. And, because | | | | If anyone was injured as a result of anything you did |
| a minor was in the car with her, she has to spend | | | | while driving under the influence, you're probably going |
| several days in jail. | | | | to jail. You could go to jail even if someone else |
| That's not all. After she gets her license back, Cindy | | | | caused the accident. And you could be sued. Your |
| has to pay four times as much for insurance as she | | | | entire family could go from doing very well to being |
| did before her conviction. And she'll have to pay four | | | | very poor because you broke the law. |
| times the going rate for five years. That penalty alone | | | | Repeat Offenders |
| could cost her $50,000. | | | | If you're a repeat offender, this much is obvious - the |
| She Didn't Learn | | | | first dose of punishment failed to get you to change |
| Several years after her conviction, Cindy has another | | | | your ways. As far as the law is concerned, you need |
| beer before she gets behind the wheel. She's involved | | | | more severe punishment. |
| in a minor traffic accident caused by another driver. | | | | You'll be paying greater fines. You'll be doing more |
| The police appear from nowhere, they smell beer on | | | | community service. You'll have to do without a driver's |
| Cindy's breath, and they arrest her once again. This | | | | license for several months or years. |
| time, Cindy's in a heck of a lot more trouble than she | | | | When you get your license back, you might find it |
| was the first time. It's her second offense in less than | | | | impossible to get auto insurance. And if you get caught |
| five years, she's charged with Felony DUI, and she's | | | | driving without insurance, your situation goes from bad |
| going to spend at least five days in jail! Not only that, | | | | to worse. |
| but - as a convicted felon - her career prospects are | | | | And, of course, it's more likely that you'll have to spend |
| severely diminished. If Cindy had planned on going to | | | | some time - from several weeks to several months to |
| law school, or nursing school, or becoming a | | | | several years - in jail. And, as mentioned earlier, you |
| schoolteacher, she might find those opportunities | | | | might find yourself charged with a felony, rather than a |
| closed to her. More likely, she'll discover just how hard | | | | misdemeanor. |
| it is for a convicted felon to get a decent job. | | | | Finding Representation |
| Stiffer and Stiffer Penalties | | | | Even if you have found yourself in one of these tricky |
| About a third of all drivers arrested for DUI are repeat | | | | situations, there is some hope. A skilled attorney who |
| offenders, and better than 10% of drunk drivers | | | | specialists in DUI and DWI cases will be able to give |
| involved in fatal crashes have been convicted of DUI | | | | you the expert advice and representation you need. |
| within the past few years. About 15 percent of U.S. | | | | While it's very likely you will have some repercussions |
| adults have driven under the influence of alcohol in the | | | | to deal with, a law firm specializing in drunk driving |
| past year, and another 5% have driven under the | | | | cases will be able to get you the best possible |
| influence of illegal drugs. The result? Penalties for DUI | | | | outcome and could possibly have the charges |
| are getting stiffer and stiffer. | | | | dropped. |
| First-Time Offenders | | | | You can find your area's highest quality legal |
| If you're a first-time offender, you'll probably spend no | | | | professionals who are extremely well versed and |
| more than a few hours or an evening in the county jail, | | | | experience with helping DUI defendants with online |
| but you'll also face some stiff financial penalties. You | | | | resource and directory Local-Attorneys. With |
| could be fined anywhere from $200 to $1,200, | | | | Local-Attorneys you are matched with the absolute |
| depending on the jurisdiction. The court might order you | | | | best local lawyers who are ready to represent you to |
| to take a driver safety course, and you'll have to pay | | | | the fullest in your upcoming legal issue. While it's never |
| for that. | | | | OK to get behind the wheel after having even one |
| On top of fines are other fees, including compensating | | | | drink, this article is intended to provide information and |
| the police and the courts, you might be required to | | | | tips about common DUI scenarios, so that hopefully |
| provide community service. That could mean wearing | | | | you think twice before you make a bad decision. |
| a bright orange vest while picking up trash along a | | | | |