How To Deal With Your Very First DUI Offense

By  //  August 1, 2021

There are 3 main reasons why people get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. The first reason is a driver who just doesn’t care, thankfully these are in the minority; secondly, you have people who don’t think they are over the limit when they are, and finally, there is the group who drive the morning after a night out.

This latter group makes up the largest percentage of DUI stops, which is why you should be educated on the time it takes for alcohol to leave the body. Here in NSW speeding offences are usually the reason for a car stop, or erratic driving, which leads to a DUI charge. 

Should you find yourself in this situation, here is how it will play out, and what you need to do. 

What Happens?

To give you a brief understanding of what will happen after you get stopped and you fail the breath test, first you will be taken to the nearest police station. At the station, you will be booked in and you will have fingerprints taken, and possibly a mugshot too. If you or someone you know can post bail, you will be immediately released. 

Prior to leaving the station, you will have your license temporarily suspended and you will be ordered to appear in court for a DUI hearing at a date in the future. 

Risks of the Stop 

If this is the first time that you have been involved with the police then you should understand the severity of what is happening. There is a chance that after the court hearing, you could be sent to jail. Many think that a first-time stop won’t result in this but it is always a possibility. In most cases you will be given a lesser sentence, but should there be additional aggravating circumstances like resisting arrest, dangerous driving or violence, you can expect jail time. 

Potential Outcomes

In the main what we see with first-time offenders is that they are given a hefty fine and be forced to attend a driver safety course before they get their license back.

The alcohol and drug education program is necessary for first-time offenders too, which will take up many hours of your time. Most people who commit this offense once, never do so again, which is why they are more lenient on them. With this being said, you will have to ensure that you pay the fine and undergo the course as and when is instructed. 

The reality is that if you have been stopped and charged with a DUI offense, it is incredibly important that you take it seriously and that you follow the steps laid out by the courts.

Beyond this it is also crucial that you take any action needed to prevent this from ever taking place again. If you get caught for a DUI a second time you will be in big trouble and avoiding jail is going to be incredibly tough.