The Strength of Your Convictions
So say you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, and you go through your whole court case, and now you’ve been convicted. First of all, stop crying; you brought this on yourself. Second, you’ve got to deal with your sentencing. No, not how you’re going to break this to your mother. Punishment sentencing.
Depending on the amount of alcohol in your blood and how many offenses you’ve notched up, you can be sentenced to up to 72 hours in jail for a first offense or up to 60 days for a fourth offense. You may also have to pay a fine of between $375 and $10,500. They can impound your vehicle, and you’ll have to pay to have that stored as well. They won’t be putting it up in a Hilton, but they’ll charge you like they are.
You won’t be able to drive for a minimum of 90 days, and you’ll have to complete a really, really, really fun DUI program. You might also have to install an ignition interlock device in your car, which requires you to blow and hum into a tiny tube before you can start your car. You’ll also have to pay for this device. That kind of fun doesn’t come free.
If your drunk driving resulted in someone’s injury or death, the consequences will obviously be even more severe. There can be civil lawsuits brought against you, meaning that you will be punished further by having to spend a whole lot of time around a bunch of lawyers.