Every state in the country has drunk driving laws and punishments that they have created to help discourage the practice of drinking and driving. In Washington, D.C., the blood alcohol content level that you are measured by is the same as in the states, which is .08%. They have a zero tolerance level for drivers under the age of 21 who are found with alcohol in their blood stream. The DUI/DWI laws include drugs as well as alcohol, so if you are driving under the influence, you will be subject to some very strict punishments.
First Offense DWI
A first offense DWI in the District of Columbia will result in you having your license being suspended for at least 90 days, but it can be up to 1 year, depending upon the circumstances. If you fail to submit to a BAC test, your license will automatically be suspended for one year. If your BAC is .15% or higher, you will be subject to a minimum incarceration of five days, but if it is lower there is no minimum jail time required. Depending upon the factors, you can face jail time of up to 90 days for a first offense. As far as fees, the minimum is $300 and the maximum is $1000, depending upon your case and what sentence requirements that you have to meet.
Second Offense DWI
The second DWI conviction in 15 years means that you will fact some strict consequences. The first thing that will happen is that you will lose your license for 1 year and can face up to 1 year in jail. Fines will range from $1000 to $5000, depending upon the factors in which are involved in your arrest and your legal representation and sentencing. Having a lawyer that can help you through this process can help you to make it through the legal process with much less stress.
Third Offense DWI
If you have a third DWI arrest, you will receive an Order of Proposed Suspension from the arresting officer. This means that you have to schedule a meeting to review your license suspension at the DMV. You will lose your license for up to two years and you will have to pay up to $98 for license reinstatement fee. A fine of up to $10,000 may be imposed upon you and you can face up to 1 year in jail. Depending upon the circumstances and factors of your DWI arrest, you can find a lesser sentence or you can have to complete a treatment program or be sentenced to some community service.
These strict punishments all add up to one thing. Drinking and driving or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can mean the difference between being able to live your life in the way that you want and having restrictions placed on your life. Don’t drink and drive to allow you to be able to drive and to live your life in a much freer and less constrictive way.