First Time DUI, not a big deal? THINK AGAIN!!!

I get asked by prospective clients, colleagues, friends and yes, family, all of the time, about whether or not a first time DUI is a big deal.  Well, IT IS!  Here's a brief look at exactly why:

 LEGAL CONSEQUENCES:

(None of which can be altered by the judge except the alcohol and drug evaluation-these are MANDATORY MINIMUMS)

 -$300.00 fine (if not more)

 -mandatory 24 hours in jail (if you did not do 24 hours at the time of arrest, you will have to do the balance of any time not served by either going into custody right after your plea or reporting to the jail on a date and time certain)

 -an alcohol and drug evaluation, and treatment if necessary (this means that if after you are evaluated by a professional and certified alcohol and drug counselor

 -40 hours of community service (unless you are over 21 and your BAC was less than 0.08%)

 -a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program

 -12 months of probation

 -unless a an Affidavit of First Conviction is requested and obtained from the judge at the time of any plea, your license will be suspended upon any conviction for DUI; with a first time DUI, an Affidavit of First Conviction will allow you to obtain a limited driving permit

 -suspension of your license after arrest if the sobriety tests are refused or your BAC is 0.08% or greater, unless your attorney sends and gets filed the standard “10-Day Letter) to the Georgia Department of Driver Services within 10-days of your arrest

 FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES:

 -having to retain a competent and skilled DUI attorney; which may costs thousands of dollars simply to adequately prepare for and investigate the case up until the point of a plea being negotiated and entered; it could cost thousands more to actually try the case

 -insurance rates for a first time DUI, even if the driver otherwise has a “clean” history, typically run at least $1700.00 for a six-month premium payment; for one DUI is $1,700 for 6 months; many insurance companies revoke “standard” rates and only offer non-standard rates, which on average can be 60% to 100% higher than the standard rates

 -you can lose your job, even if your job does not involve driving as part of your work duties or even if you don’t have to have a CDL

 -due to background checks and application processes, it can make getting a job or getting into college, graduate school or even some technical schools much more difficult, if not impossible; can effect military enlistment

 -it could hinder your ability to get or retain child custody

 EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCES:

It can effect your personal and family relationships.

Endanger your job.

IN general...

IT CAN RUIN YOUR LIFE AND CONSUME YOU 24/7!!!