Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious crime. When driving a vehicle, you could be placing your life and those around you in jeopardy when operating a vehicle under the influence. If you are stopped by an officer for suspicion of driving under the influence, a guilty verdict could change your life. There are many areas of your life that would be impacted by a DUI charge. In Idaho, if you are charged with a DUI and then found guilty, a DUI is added to your permanent record.
DUIs are serious charges in Idaho. You are considered under the influence if you:
- Operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher
- Operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.02 or higher while under the age of 21
- Operating a vehicle while under the influence of other intoxicants, like drugs
If you have a DUI on your record, it can impact many other areas of your life besides your driving record. Here are several ways a DUI conviction can negatively impact your life:
- Finances: DUI cases can be expensive to fight in court. If you were charged and convicted of driving under the influence, you would spend quite a bit of money before you’re able to put the case in your past. There are many expenses associated with DUIs that can add costs to your everyday life. Just driving your car will cost more. Your insurance rates will change if you’ve been found guilty of driving while intoxicated.
- Restoring Your Driving Privileges: Once you’ve paid all fees, fines, or penalties related to your DUI charge, you will need to focus on ensuring your car is legal to drive. Depending on the details of your case, you may need to have an ignition lock installed on your car. Ignition locks deter future DUIs by requiring drivers to prove sobriety before starting the vehicle.
- DUI Related Fees: Once you’ve completed your fines and associated penalties and fines, you may still have DUI-related costs that you must pay to complete as requirements part of the consequences for the DUI charge. An example of such fees would be for DUI school. Offenders are often required to attend DUI school, which can range in price from $300 to over $700! Another example would be the fines associated with a DUI charge, like fines or penalties.
In Idaho, DUI offenses have a ten-year lookback period, so a conviction could be on your record for several years. DUIs are considered progressive crimes, so while a first offense may have more lenient consequences, a second offense will come with more severe penalties. It’s important to realize that a DUI can follow you for many years and impact the choices your future self will have available. Everything from employment to education could be impacted by the outcome of your DUI case. Call today at (208) 623-8021, so we can schedule a consultation to review the details of your case.