The Arrest

If you fail the roadside sobriety test, which could entail anything from standing on one leg while answering a barrage of questions to touching your nose and walking a straight line, you will be read your rights.

You will enjoy a complimentary ride in a police car to jail?in tight handcuffs.
A tow truck will take your car and impound it.
A Breathalyzer test will be offered under the implied consent laws, and if you refuse it, you can say good-bye to your license at that point; it will be confiscated. You may never see it again, as it will be suspended.

You will get to sober up in a jail cell. Depending on how much you had to drink, this could be just a few long hours or a never-ending day. While you are sitting behind bars, a whole series of events could be set into motion that will affect your employment, your financial stability, and your family.

Gambling with the BAC
Simply put, blood alcohol concentration is how much alcohol is pulsing through your blood and giving you the feel-good high of intoxication. While there are numerous factors affecting each individual's BAC, and it will vary from person to person even after the same number of drinks, scientists have come up with a few basic averages.

Cresting the 0.08% BAC level would require a 170-pound guy with an empty stomach to imbibe around four drinks in one hour. To match this BAC, a woman hovering around 140 pounds would need to have three drinks in an hour on an empty stomach. So the variable is based on body weight, time frame versus amount consumed, and time elapsed between drinks. As far as alcohol content per drink, a glass of wine, one beer, and one shot all carry about equal weight.

DUI Penalties

First Offense
Defendant is required to enroll in a 14-day alcohol or drug abuse program.
Jail time: Generally, a first offense will not carry any jail time past the initial arrest, but it is possible to remain incarcerated for up to five days.
License suspension: 90 days. The court will consider limited driving privileges for those who are employed and have no other means of transportation.
Other sentencing options include up to 72 hours of community service.
Second Offense

Within five years of the first offense:

Fine: Between $500 and $1,500.
Five to 14 days in jail or 240 hours of community service.
License suspension: One year.
Third Offense

Within five years of the first offense:

Fine: Between $500 and $2,500.
Jail time: 10 to 30 days.
License suspension: License will be revoked for two to five years.
Loss of vehicle.

We hope you never need one, but a DUI attorney can help you understand these penalties as well as what you can expect in court.