DUI Penalties Are Serious For Repeat Offenders

DUI penalties vary from state-to-state, and can even vary from county-to-county within each state. The one thing that seems to be consistent is that driving under the influence penalties are getting stiffer, especially for repeat offenders, across the nation. For instance, recently new laws have been enacted that if you are convicted of a DUI and you had a minor child in the car your penalties will increase, and if you caused an accident while drunk you will face harsher punishment. If you are convicted of DUI and you are under the age of 21, watch-out as well.

In most states, when you are convicted of a repeat DUI, the charge against you will be a felony and you will face mandatory jail time. The amount of jail time will vary for each state, but it can range from as little as 10 days to as much as 1 year in jail. Fines increase substantially for repeat offenders as well. You could be facing fines that range from $2,000 to $10,000. Additionally, be prepared to lose your driving privileges for at least 6 months, but it could be as much as 5 years. Another of the many DUI penalties is that in many states your car will be confiscated. You will be required to carry high risk insurance, which can be double or triple the cost of standard auto insurance. The problem is you may not even be able to find an insurance company that will offer you coverage.
Furthermore, repeat offender DUI convictions, since they now include jail time, could cause you to lose the job you have, and make it much harder to find a new job. Having more than one DUI on your record can also affect your ability to rent a home, get a loan, or even get grants for schooling. Along with all of this you will also be required to take drug and alcohol awareness classes, these classes are known as "DUI School."

In many states you will be required to take these classes along with counseling, even with one DUI conviction. The difference is that with repeated offenses the judge has the authority to make you attend these classes for and extended amount of time.
The purpose of a DUI program is to educate you on the dangers of drinking and driving. This is a method that jurisdictions are now utilizing to help rehabilitate alcohol and drug abusers and teach them skills in stopping the abuse.
If you are ever ordered to attend these classes, most courts will now allow you to take them online. Just be sure to confirm first with your particular court system. This is a good opportunity for you for several reasons. First, you probably will not have your driver's license or a vehicle, so attending traditional classes will be very difficult. You can take your classes anytime of the day or night making it easier to fit into your schedule. They are confidential and secure. You can log into most courses from anywhere in the fifty states. When you have successfully completed the course, you will receive an Certificate of Completion to show as proof to judges, courts, attorneys, probation officers or the DMV that you have taken the class.