DUI & DWI in Alabama
Fines and Fees
1st offense – $600 to $2,100
2nd offense – $1,100 to $5,100
3rd offense – $2,100 to $10,100
4th offense – $4,100 to $10,100
Insurance
Insurance Increase – $825.66
Total policy increase – $2,476.98
Ticket Counsel Customers
Average (initial) cost – $500 – $1,250
ALABAMA DUI/ DWI
Driving under influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI) is an offense committed when a driver operates a vehicle after the consumption of alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants.
The increased alcohol level in a driver’s blood decreases mental and motor skills. This reduces a driver’s ability to control the vehicle and increases driver errors of judgment and often results in accidents causing severe injuries and even death!
Drunk driving is the single largest cause of motor vehicle related fatalities. It accounts for a high of 38% to 52% of the total number of motor vehicle related deaths each year.
ALABAMA DUI/ DWI REGULATIONS
In Alabama, the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit is set at:
0.08% – for drivers over 21 years of age
0.04% – for commercial drivers (CDL)
0.02% – for drivers under 21 years of age
Having a license in the state of Alabama automatically renders “implied consent”. “Implied consent” can be used by the officer to test your BAC level if you are stopped on the suspicion of drunk driving, either through a Breathalyzer test or by an actual blood test. Refusing to take the chemical test will result in your license being suspended. If you are convicted of DUI/DWI, it is recommended that you get in touch with a DUI/DWI lawyer as they are experts at handling such incidents and can offer you the best advice.
Insurance companies keep a close watch on DUI violations. Your insurance premiums may go up drastically, and you may be labeled a “high-risk” customer. Even worse, your insurance company may cancel your policy, leaving you to search for insurance with the “high-risk” driver tag, meaning you’ll have to pay much higher premiums.
Insurance companies keep a close watch on DUI violations. Your insurance premiums may go up
drastically, and you may be labeled a “high-risk” customer. Even worse, your insurance company may
cancel your policy, leaving you to search for insurance with the “high-risk” driver tag, meaning you’ll
have to pay much higher premiums.
ALABAMA DUI/ DWI PENALTIES
If convicted of a DUI/ DWI the ramifications include: Heavy Fines, Points on your drivers license, and a License Suspension or Revocation, and higher Insurance Premiums! Points are assessed based on the severity of the offense and the number of convictions. All this information can be found on our website. You could also contact Ticket Counsel absolutely FREE!!!
If you are over 21 years old:
Alabama Law permits only ten days for a request from your lawyer to save your license.
1st Offense
- Is treated a Misdemeanor.
- A $600 to $2,100 fine.
- Imprisonment for up to 1 year.
- Your license will be suspended for 90 days.
- You will have to attend DUI School.
2nd Offense
-
(within 5 Years)
- Is treated a Misdemeanor.
- A fine of $1,100 to $5,100.
- Jail sentence ranging from 48 hours to 1 year.
- You will have to undertake minimum 20 days of community service.
- Your license will be revoked for 1-year.
3rd Offense
-
(in the Lifetime of the Person)
- A fine of $2,100 to $10,100.
- Minimum mandatory jail sentence ranging from 60 days to 1 year.
- Your license will be revoked for 3 years.
4th Offense
- Is treated as a Class C Felony.
- A fine ranging from $4,100 to $10,100.
- Imprisonment from 366 days to over 10 years.
- Your license will be revoked for 5 years.
IF YOU ARE UNDER 21 YEARS OLD
- 6 points will be added to your driving record if you are convicted with a charge involving drunk driving without any mandatory revocation of the driver license.
- The license may be suspended or revoked for 90 days after the 1st conviction, 1 year after the 2nd conviction, and 3 years following the 3rd or subsequent conviction.
- If anyone over 21 years is convicted and a child below 14 years was present in the vehicle at the time of the offense, the person will be sentenced to twice the minimum punishment he/she would have received if the child was absent in the vehicle.
- Aside from these actions, penalties mentioned above for drivers over 21, may also apply to minors if they are convicted of DUI/DWI.
ALABAMA PENALTIES FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE DRIVERS (CDL)
- You will get a 1-year suspension if you are convicted for your BAC being higher than 0.04%.
- You will be suspended for 2 years if you do not submit to a test.
- Aside from these actions, penalties mentioned above for drivers over 21, may also apply to commercial drivers for their offenses of DUI/DWI.
ALABAMA ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST DUI/DWI
Alabama laws have administrative implications in addition to the criminal laws against DUI/DWI. An officer may arrest a driver if:
- The driver is age 21 and over and is driving with BAC 0.08% or more.
- The driver is under age 21 and is driving with BAC 0.02% or more.
Under this action, if you are arrested for DUI/DWI, the arresting officer will confiscate your Alabama driver license complete a notice of license suspension/revocation based on the nature of the offense along with a warrant, if applicable. The driver can schedule an administrative hearing after notice of suspension/revocation.
It is a good idea to consult a DUI/DWI lawyer beforehand. If the hearing goes against the driver, the license will be suspended or revoked based on the driver’s previous 5-year driving record. If the driver has any alcohol-related convictions or suspensions during this 5-year period, the license will be revoked for 1 year.
If not, it will be suspended for 90 days. For a DUI/DWI offense in Alabama with a prior DUI/DWI offense in a 5-year period in Alabama or any other state will result in suspension of registration of all motor vehicles owned by you for the period that your license remains suspended, unless this imposes undue difficulties to any family member, vehicle co-owner who may be dependent on the vehicle. If the driver, however, does not request a hearing, then the suspension/revocation begins after the arrest, and is final.
Vehicle confiscation penalties permit a law enforcement agency or motor vehicle department to seize your vehicle for fixed time period or permanently. Such penalties typically are applicable only to repeat DUI offenders. Vehicle return often involves large administrative costs and fines may also have to be paid.
ALABAMA IGNITION INTERLOCK REQUIREMENTS
Ignition interlock devices are designed to hook up to your vehicle’s ignition system and require you to pass a BAC/breathalyzer test before your car will start. You may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle if you:
- Received a 1st offense of a DUI with a BAC of 0.15% or more.
- Caused an accident as the result of your DUI.
- Committed a DUI with a passenger younger than 14 years old in the car.
- Have committed multiple DUIs.
For more information and for a list of approved interlock device installation facilities, please visit the Alabama Department of Public Safety website.