If you have been accused of a DUI, then you need to know your rights and the laws of your state. With a firm understanding of your situation, you can potentially minimize the penalties of your mistake. Even if you can't beat your charge, you can mentally prepare yourself for the road ahead. Here are some of the penalties that you may encounter when it comes to DUI's in Alaska.
Multiple Offenses
You first need to understand that the severity of your penalties will depend quite a bit on whether or not you were convicted of a DUI in the past. If that is the case, then you will likely be penalized much harsher than if it were your first offense.
These penalties can increase up to your fifth DUI, at which point the penalties will be quite severe. Thankfully, the law only looks back 15 years when it comes to using this rule, so if you were accused of a DUI 16 years ago and haven't been convicted since then, then your current DUI will be treated as your first as far as sentencing is concerned.
Jail Time
The amount of time that you will spend in jail also depends quite a bit on exactly how many DUI's you have been convicted of. If it's your first DUI, then you could spend as little as 72 hours in jail. If it's your fifth DUI, then 240 days is the minimum amount of time that the court can send you to jail.
Alaska is somewhat unique in that it does not list maximum jail sentences for first or second offenses. This gives judges quite a bit of discretion when it comes to determining how much time you will need to spend in jail. If you can plead your case effectively, then you can easily end up near the minimum sentencing requirements.
Fines
You can also be fined a certain amount of money for your offense, with the first and second offenses carrying a fine of $1500 and $3000 respectively. As you go beyond the second offense, the fine can rise up to $10000.
While a first offense might not be too punishing on your finances, a $10000 hit could be exceptionally damaging. For this reason, you want to be particularly careful about any convictions beyond your first. Not only will you end up spending a fair amount of time in jail, but the financial toll can rapidly rise to an unmanageable size. To learn more, contact an attorney like Novak Lee Atty At Law.
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