Do you go to jail for DUI?

Do you go to jail for DUI?

Whether you will be put in prison for a DUI depends on multiple factors. The most important factor is how many DUI convictions you already have.

After that, however, it also matters how drunk you were, whether you injured anyone, and who else was in your vehicle. There is no mandatory jail for a simple DUI, where no one gets hurt, until your second conviction.

When you are facing charges for driving under the influence, you need the assistance of an expert Orlando DUI defense lawyer. Do not go it alone; contact Katz & Phillips today.

Fines and possible jail time for DUI

The punishments for your DUI will increase for each DUI conviction that you receive.

First conviction

The first time that you are arrested for a DUI, the maximum punishment is a fine of at least $500 but not more than $1,000 and possible imprisonment of up to 6 months.

However, you are very unlikely to be imprisoned for your first DUI.

Like many things, there is an exception. If your blood alcohol content was 0.15 or higher, meaning it was essentially double the legal limit, the minimum fine increases to $1,000, and the possible jail time increases to 9 months instead of 6. You are still unlikely, however, to serve jail time.

Second conviction

The second time that you are convicted of a DUI, you will be subject to a minimum fine of $1,000, and possible imprisonment of up to 9 months. If your second DUI was within 5 years of your first DUI, you will be subject to mandatory imprisonment of a minimum of 10 days.

However, if your blood alcohol content was 0.15 or higher, or if you had a minor in the car with you, the minimum fine increases to $2,000 and possible imprisonment increases to a maximum of one year.

Third conviction

The third time that you are convicted of a DUI, you are subject to a minimum fine of $2,000 and possible jail time of up to a year.

However, if this is your third DUI within 10 years of your second conviction, you will be subject to a minimum of 30 days of jail time.

If your third conviction comes more than 10 years after your last, you will be subject to imprisonment for no more than 12 months.

Fourth conviction

If your fourth conviction is within 10 years of a previous conviction, you can be imprisoned for up to 5 years.

In fact, the fourth conviction counts as a felony conviction. This can have additional repercussions.

For example, you will be a felon for life, and in the State of Florida, this means that you will most likely not be allowed to vote again.

Contact an Orlando criminal defense attorney

If you are facing a DUI conviction, jail time is possible. We will do everything that we possibly can to ensure that you do not go to jail. Contact Katz & Phillips, P.A. today for a free consultation and case review.