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Des Moines DUI Attorney

Consequences of a DUI in Des Moines

There are many types of offenses you can commit and citations you can receive when it comes to driving a car. These can range from something so simple as not wearing your seatbelt, to vehicular manslaughter. One of these more serious driving offenses is the DUI. DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence and is when you’re operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. While driving a car when you are intoxicated by itself is a dangerous and illegal act, there are still more Des Moines DUI consequences to consider.

First and foremost, you need to take into account the fact that you are endangering yourself and everyone around you. Drinking seriously impairs your judgment. Operating a motor vehicle under these circumstances is very dangerous. Your reaction time is slowed down, which can in turn cause you to get into an accident, in which you could be injured, or even worse, you could injure others. DUI in Des Moines is a serious offense that has serious consequences.

If convicted of a DUI in Des Moines you will have large fines to pay. These can range anywhere from $100 to upwards of $5000. This may be all right for a few, but for many, this money could be hard to come by. The fine isn’t even the worst of your problems, either.

Another Des Moines DUI consequence is having your driver’s license suspended. The duration of the suspension varies, based on the severity of the case, and whether or not you’ve had a previous DUI. Suspensions can be for as little as 30 days or as much 1 year. In some Des Moines DUI cases, your license can be revoked indefinitely. Sometimes you’ll be able to apply for restricted license use. This means you’ll still be able to drive your car to and from school or work.

On top of these, there is also the fact that your auto insurance will increase. Because you’re labeled as a more dangerous driver, the insurance companies will see you as more of a risk, and therefore require you to pay more for your coverage. Your insurance company also might drop your policy entirely. Some insurance agencies won’t even carry you if you’ve had a DUI in Des Moines.

If none of this is enough to deter you, the worst thing that can happen to you as a result of a DUI in Des Moines is that you may face jail time. Usually on the first offense, no jail time is necessary. If you have more than one Des Moines DUI, however, you may be required to serve some time, on top of your fine and license suspension. Depending on whether you’ve had any previous offenses and the severity of them all, you may have to serve as little as 30 days, or as much as 5 years.

Be careful when you’ve been drinking. You may think you’re fine to drive, but alcohol will impair your judgment. If you’ve been drinking, it is best not to risk it and just let someone else drive. Be responsible and realize that driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol isn’t a smart thing to do. There are many consequences to being convicted of a DUI in Des Moines and you can get in serious trouble. Think about them before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle when you’ve been drinking.