Cracking down on DUI above .15

I thought it would be a good idea to talk about some of the new DUI penalties drivers face.  For instance, he new DUI law takes the penalties under the old law. Therefore, doubles them for individuals who have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over .15.  This means higher fines and possibly longer incarceration if the court finds that to be a necessary penalty.

DUI fines

Moreover, for a person who is convicted of their first DUI, their minimum fine would be $600.00. Under the new law, the minimum fine would be $1,200.00 for a person with a BAC .15 or over.  For a person convicted of a second DUI within five years, they would normally face a $1,100.00 minimum fine.  

If that same person were to have a BAC over .15, their minimum fine would be $2,200.00.  For a third conviction within five years, the minimum fine would normally be $2,100.00.  However, for a BAC over .15, the minimum fine would be $4,200.00.  For a fourth conviction within five years, a person is going to be forced to pay a minimum fine of $4,100.00.  For a BAC over .15, the minimum fine would be $8,200.00.  The fourth conviction will also result in a conviction of a class C felony.  The doubled penalties also apply to anyone convicted of DUI with a child under the age of 14 in the vehicle.

Other DUI penalties

Other than fines, a person convicted of DUI will also be subject too incarceration of not more than one year in jail.  The Department of Public Safety will suspend the license of a person convicted of DUI for 90 days for the first DUI conviction.  For a second DUI conviction, the Department of Public Safety will revoke their driver’s license for one year.  Upon a third conviction, the Department of Public Safety will revoke their driver’s license for three years.  For a fourth DUI conviction, the Department of Public Safety will revoke their driver’s license for five years.  On top of the above mentioned penalties, an individual convicted of DUI will also be required to attend some type of counseling mandated by the state of Alabama.

As you can see, the state has a myriad of penalties an individual convicted of DUI will be faced with.