The DUI laws of the state Washington
DC prohibit the following:
- Drivers under the age
of 21 operating a motor vehicle with any
measurable alcohol in their system (DC
has a Zero Tolerance Law for minor
drivers);
- Drivers of any age
operating a motor vehicle with BAC of
0.08 percent or above;
- Drivers of commercial
vehicles with BAC of 0.04 percent or
above; and
- Drivers operating a
vehicle while under the influence of any
drugs or alcohol and drugs.
The
penalties for a DUI conviction in Washington DC
include, but are not limited to, the following:
First
DUI Conviction
- A first DUI conviction
in DC carries jail time of maximum of 90
days and fines ranging from $300 to
$1,000. In addition, drivers
convicted of a first DUI offense face
suspension of their license for up to 6
months.
Second
DUI Conviction
- For a second DUI
conviction in DC, offenders will face
jail time of up to a year and fines from
$1,000 to $5,000. In addition,
second-time offenders face license
suspension for one year.
Third
DUI Conviction
- For a third DUI
conviction in Washington DC, drivers will
face jail time up to one year and fines
ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.
Also, third-time offenders will face
license suspension for two years.
Summary of Washington DC DUI
Laws
In Washington D.C., anyone with a
measurable amount of blood alcohol content can be
arrested. A determination of .05% can result in a
DWI conviction, but .08% is a violation in and of
itself. First time offenders will generally not
face any jail time, but will be required to
attend a substance abuse treatment program
providing their blood alcohol content was not
greater than .10%. If an offender’s blood
alcohol content is .20% or higher, a mandatory
jail term may be imposed even if a conviction is
a first for the offender.
In Washington D.C., driving under
the influence (DUI) can often result in a
conviction without any testing. Evidence
supporting an impairment is often sufficient for
DUI charges. DWI, on the other hand, means that
the driver was driving while intoxicated. For
this conviction to be upheld, the offender must
have a certain amount of alcohol in his/her
system, which is usually .08% or higher.
In addition to regular fines, first
time offenders can expect to receive a possible
license suspension. Anyone refusing to submit to
a blood alcohol content test, on the other hand,
will face an additional license suspension.
Washington D.C. offenders may be
required to undergo some type of alcohol
evaluation and/or treatment program if the court
deems it necessary. This is especially true with
offenders who have a high blood alcohol content,
which may signify an alcohol dependency.
Youthful offenders, who consist of
anyone under the age of 21 with any measurable
trace of alcohol in their system, will be subject
to license suspension, fines, possible referral
to a court ordered treatment/counseling program,
etc. Individuals who are involved in a DUI, which
causes personal injury or death, may face felony
charges and much harsher penalties.
Upon conviction or an admission of
guilt, DUI offenders are commonly faced with
problems relating to their insurance company.
Immediately being labeled as “high
risk” drivers, offenders are often dropped
by their insurance company altogether or, at the
very least, are required to pay much higher rates
than before. In the event that the offender is
forced to look for a new insurance provider,
he/she may have a difficult time finding a new
company who offers high risk policies but, if
they do, the rates will likely be extremely high
for the amount of coverage granted.
|
