After having a couple of drinks at a Mississippi bar or residence, you might think you’re okay to drive. However, even with a buzz, a police officer could pull you over if you’re driving erratically. An arrest for drunk driving carries numerous consequences.
License suspension
If you face charges of driving under the influence, your driver’s license can be automatically suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles. This occurs if you took a breath or blood test after your arrest that resulted in a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or higher. This is known as an administrative license suspension.
If you’re convicted of DUI, you will receive an additional suspension on top of whatever was imposed by the DMV. Usually, this is up to one year, but it could be more with previous convictions on your record.
Other consequences
A DUI conviction results in fines, court fees and jail time. The length of jail time depends on the circumstances of your case. For a first offense, the sentence might only be a few days, but it could be more than a year for prior convictions, injuries or death to another person or having a minor in the vehicle.
You may also be ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle. It requires you to blow into a tube to measure your BAC level to determine whether your car can even start.
You may also be ordered by a judge to enter rehab for alcohol addiction treatment or an educational program that covers the dangers of drunk driving.
If your job requires you to drive, a DUI conviction could impact that. You might end up losing your employment and having trouble securing a new job.
Drunk driving is never worth the risk. Even with no conviction, you can have trouble in many areas of your life.
