A drunk driving conviction can have a long lasting effect on your personal and professional life. If you are convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DWI) it can impact your ability to obtain future employment and housing opportunities. Depending on the circumstances of your case, a DWI conviction could prohibit you from obtaining a job, a lease for your own apartment, or even admission to a school or other educational institution. A DWI conviction can also impact your ability to obtain a future driver’s license. A DWI conviction can lead to additional penalties such as fines, probation, and jail time. If you’re convicted of a DWI, you’ll face serious consequences, including fines, jail time, and even the potential loss of employment and future opportunities. If you are arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DWI) or a similar alcohol-related traffic offense, it is essential to understand the penalties that may occur as a result of that arrest. A DWI conviction can impact your personal and professional life for years to come which is why hiring a highly experienced DUI defense attorney is so important. If you or a loved one has been arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol or another controlled substance, it is crucial to retain an experienced and reliable DUI defense attorney as soon as possible.

What Are the Penalties for a DWI?

A conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DWI) results in a variety of penalties, both short-term and long-term. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your DWI arrest, certain penalties will be imposed. Some penalties may be mandatory; others may be discretionary. Mandatory penalties are required by law and cannot be waived by the court. Mandatory penalties for a DWI include driver’s license revocation, fines, and jail time. Discretionary penalties are imposed at the discretion of the judge and may be waived if the circumstances surrounding your DWI conviction are sufficiently mitigating.

Driving License Restoration

One of the most immediate impacts of a DWI conviction is the immediate loss of your driver’s license. Once a DWI conviction is entered against you, the state will revoke your privilege to drive, unless you obtain a restricted or probationary license. If you lose your license, it will likely take up to 90 days to get the license reinstated, depending on your circumstances. However, if you successfully complete your sentence and remain free of further criminal activity for one year, you can apply to have your license reinstated. You will also have to pay a reinstatement fee to have the license reissued. If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you will likely lose that license upon conviction. Additionally, if you are working towards getting your CDL, you will likely be denied certification as a commercial driver until the DWI is resolved.

Fines and Penalties

When you are convicted of a DWI, you will be subject to fines and penalties. The amount of the fine will depend on your income, the severity of the DWI, and whether there are any aggravating factors involved in the DWI. The first factor that will be considered is the amount of your gross income. If your gross income is below a certain threshold, the fines imposed will be reduced, so long as you do not have any dependants (child, parent, spouse, etc.). Once your gross income is above that threshold, the fines will increase. The fines that are imposed by a DWI conviction vary by state. The fines for a DWI conviction can be broken down into four main categories: Criminal Fines, Victim Restitution, Court Costs, and Legal Fees. Criminal Fines - A DWI conviction will likely result in fines for both the state and local government. The fines may include: Mandatory Driver’s License Suspension or Revocation Mandatory Fines for Victim Restitution Varies based on the severity of the case - Mandatory Victim Restitution for Injured Victims Varies based on the severity of the case - Mandatory Victim Restitution for Family Members of the Victim Mandatory Victim Restitution for Governmental Bodies Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Mandatory Victim Restitution for Animal Victims Mandatory Victim Restitution for Unpaid Medical Expenses Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Governmental Employees Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Governmental Benefit Recipients Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Disabled or Disabled Victims Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Children Victim Restitution for Victims Who Are Incapable of Working Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Mentally Ill Victims Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Indirectly Inflicting Loss Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Receiving a Full Recovery Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Full Restitution Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Working Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Indirectly Inflicting Loss Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Children Who Are Incapable of Receiving a Full Recovery Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Full Restitution Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Full Recovery Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Full Recovery Criminal Fines Victim Restitution - Mandatory Victim Restitution for Governmental Employees Mandatory Victim Restitution for Victims Who Are Incapable of Working Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Mentally Ill Victims Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Indirectly Inflicting Loss Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Receiving a Full Recovery Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Full Restitution Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Working Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Indirectly Inflicting Loss Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Children Who Are Incapable of Receiving a Full Recovery Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Children Who Are Incapable of Full Recovery Criminal Fines Victim Restitution - Mandatory Victim Restitution for Governmental Employees Mandatory Victim Restitution for Victims Who Are Incapable of Working Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Mentally Ill Victims Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Indirectly Inflicting Loss Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Receiving a Full Recovery Mandatory Victim Restitution for Certain Victims Who Are Incapable of Full Restitution Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Working Mandatory Victim Restitution for Children Who Are Incapable of Indirectly Inflicting Loss Mandatory Victim Restitution