Drinking and driving can mean lifetime consequences, although few people are aware of exactly what’s entailed. Here, DUI attorney Claiborne Ferguson of the Claiborne Ferguson Law Firm in Memphis, Tennessee, talks about what it all means. His practice is devoted to DUI defense and capital murder cases, both of which require a vast knowledge of science and law, which is why he has extensive training in both areas.
On top of the mandatory jail time and the thousands of dollars in fines levied against the DUI defendant, many states have included collateral consequences, which can range from license revocation to litter pick up and even DUI offender designation on your driver’s license or automobile tag. Some also have name and shame programs, which seek to publicly embarrass individuals convicted so they won’t reoffend.
License Revocation and Additional Insurance Coverage
Most states require a period of license revocation, community service and alcohol safety school as a condition for probation of any DUI conviction. Additional classes and conditions can increase your monetary responsibilities by thousands of dollars. Some states will require you to participate in mandatory alcohol and drug classes.
Many states require additional insurance coverage prior to re-issuing a driver’s license to someone convicted of DUI, which will increase your insurance by several hundred dollars, or possibly several thousand dollars, per year.
Getting a New Job
In addition to the aforementioned, many businesses will require a clean driving history, free of any DUI conviction, prior to hiring you, as any DUI conviction would either increase their insurance rates or quite possibly they would be unable to insure their new employee.
Therefore, anyone charged with DUI needs to be just as concerned with the long-term consequences of the DUI conviction as they are with the possibility of having to serve jail time. Jail time can last a matter of days while the collateral consequences can last a lifetime.
