Howard County First Offense DUI Penalties
Penalties for DUI cases can be serious and long-term. Driving while intoxicated endangers the general public so prosecutors will try to discourage the defendant from doing it again. It is important that if an individual is facing Howard County first offense DUI penalties, that they have legal representation during this time.
Prosecutors and judges handle first time driving under the influence charges very seriously. There is a wide range of penalties for a first time DUI in Howard County. If you are facing DUI charges and it is your first offense, it is essential that you speak with an experienced first offense DUI attorney who understands the local policies and can represent you in court. Local DUI lawyers know the prosecutors and judges and can advocate and investigate on your behalf.
Range of Driving Under the Influence Offenses
Prosecutors handle first time DUI charges seriously, but not all first time DUI offenses are the same. There is what is called the standard run-of-the-mill first offense DUIs where someone is pulled over speeding, they had poor performances in the tests and blew a 0.10 or a 0.11 which is just over the threshold of the 0.08 threshold which makes it a higher-level DUI offense. In those instances, if a person otherwise has no criminal record, no history and engages in treatment and follows the steps that an attorney will suggest and recommend, they are typically looking to be in good shape and given the benefit of what is called a probation before judgment, avoid a criminal record and avoid a loss of their license or driving privilege. Those are run of the mill.
However, a first offense can be aggravated by certain factors which take it out of that realm there. For example, if there was an accident, if someone got hurt, that is a problem. A first offense DUI is not so minor anymore. If it was a hit and run accident, if someone got very hurt, it makes it even worse. If there was a very high or low reading on blood and alcohol content, if someone blows a 0.22 or 0.23, even a first offense can have very different consequences to that and those would be treated much more aggressively in going forward, and probation before judgment may not be on the table anymore and the person may be looking at jail time even on a first offense.
Penalties for DUI Charges
There is a variety of Howard County first offense DUI penalties for the first time driving under the influence charge. The maximum penalty for a DUI is up to a year of incarceration which would give 12 points but the maximum penalty for a DWI is 60 days’ incarceration and will give 8 points.
Diversionary Programs
There is no diversion offered to a first-time offender, typically. There are some exceptions and some countries have it and Howard County is trying to adopt it soon; it is called the Veterans Docket and if that was to be attempted and started like other countries, an individual who’s, let’s say, a military veteran can have the charge put aside and get some treatment instead. Those are few and those are very narrow but for the general public and most everyone else, probation options are as follows.
The probation is not a punishment; it is designed as an alternative to incarceration, and what happens is people get the benefit of not being incarcerated while put on probation which is a period of time they have to stay out of trouble, do everything the judge requires and not re-offend by having other problems, and if they successfully complete probation without issue, that probation is closed, the case is over and they will never be exposed to any more incarceration, and if it is their first offense and there’s nothing too incendiary about it, then a person may be eligible for what is called a probation before judgment to avoid a conviction and avoid the points.
Benefits of an Attorney
When someone is facing penalties for DUI charges, they will need legal representation. An experienced DUI attorney can assist them in building a strong defense and getting them any help if alcohol abuse played a factor in their case. A local lawyer understands Howard County DUI policies and can construct a strong defense that can benefit a person during the court hearing.
If you are facing first offense DUI charges, it is essential that you speak with a knowledgeable attorney who understands Howard County first offense DUI penalties.