What is the punishment for drunk driving?
Generally speaking, a conviction for a first offense may involve a fine, a license suspension or restriction, attendance at a DUI education course for a period of time, and supervised probation for one to four years. A short jail sentence may or may not be required; for a second or third offense, it often will. Additional punishment may involve community service, chemical dependency treatment, AA meetings, and MADD victim impact meetings. On a second or subsequent offense, the Department of Public Safety may seek to take the driver’s license a second time, after the court proceeding is over, although the courts do not call this punishment. Jail time is imposed generally on a second offense. The range can be from one weekend to 30 days in jail with the possibility of electronic home monitoring. A third conviction usually carries a 90 day jail sentence, with work release and possibly some electronic home monitoring and with supervised probation upon release.
Generally speaking, a conviction for a first offense may involve a fine, a license suspension or restriction, attendance at a DUI education course for a period of time, and supervised probation for one to three years. A short jail sentence may or may not be required; for a second or third offense, it often will. Additional punishment may involve community service, ignition interlock devices, AA meetings, and MADD victim impact meetings. On a second or subsequent offense, the MVA may seek to take the driver’s license a second time, after the court proceeding is over, although the courts do not call this punishment. Many judges now impose jail time on a second offense. The range can be from one weekend to a couple of weeks in jail. A third conviction usually carries a significant jail sentence, with or without work release, and with supervised probation upon release.
