Birmingham Multiple DUI Lawyer

Experienced Multiple DUI Attorney Serving Jefferson County, AL

While being charged with a DUI in Alabama is already very serious, penalties can grow more and more severe with each additional conviction. DUIs are criminal offenses in the state of Alabama, and three DUIs following one another will result in a felony charge. There are various penalties for DUI offenders, such as a substance abuse program, fine, probation, and student loan disqualification. The key is knowing how to avoid a conviction in addition to knowing how to fight a license suspension.

First-Time DUI Penalties

Some of the punishments you can face for a first-time DUI can include the following: at least 90 days in jail (at the judge's discretion), between $600 and $2,100 in fines, substance abuse program requirements, suspension of driving privileges, student loan disqualification, ignition interlock installation (depending on the case), and high-risk insurance.

Second DUI Offense

A second DUI offense within five years is a misdemeanor offense in Alabama and comes with mandatory minimum penalties, a 365-day ignition interlock requirement, and others.

Second-time DUI penalties can include: between $1,100 and $5,100 in fines, mandatory substance abuse program, driver's license suspension for one year, vehicle ignition interlock device for up to 2 years, minimum jail time of 5 days, vehicle immobilization for 30 days (unless an ignition interlock device is installed), and high-risk insurance requirements.

Consequences of a Third DUI Conviction

A third DUI in itself comes with mandatory penalties such as a higher jail time sentence and obtaining a 3-year ignition interlock device. A fourth or subsequent DUI, however, is even more severe. This can result in between 1 and 10 years in prison, fines between $4,100 and $10,100, loss of driving privileges, vehicle confiscation, and much more.

Can I Avoid a Conviction If I Took a Breath Test?

In Alabama, if you are charged with your first DUI and you have submitted a breath test that said your blood alcohol content (BAC) was below 0.15%, it could be a good idea to take your case to trial. When you do this, you may be asked to enter an alternative - either a guilty plea or a wet reckless plea. Often times, a wet reckless plea agreement is proving that an arresting officer made an illegal arrest, though every case is different.

Can a Second DUI Be Expunged in Alabama?

No, a DUI conviction cannot be expunged under Alabama Code § 15-27-1 et seq. After five years since you've completed your sentence, however, you may be eligible to get your driving record cleared from this information for employment purposes.

In compliance with the expungement law, we will work very diligently to avoid a DUI malefaction conviction on your record. A second or third DUI offense is typically more difficult to fight because the penalties already began to increase.

Contact an Experienced Birmingham Multiple DUI Attorney

If you are uncertain about the next action to take, you may want to contact our firm so that you can recieve the counsel you need that is tailored to your case's needs. Our DUI defense lawyer has appeared in almost every criminal courtroom in the state of Alabama and can use this experience to your advantage. Please complete an online case evaluation form or feel free to contact us directly.