When you were driving home, an officer pulled you over alleging that you had been speeding. After a few minutes of speaking with them, they had you take a Breathalyzer test, and then you performed field sobriety tests, too.

You thought you’d be good to go, but the officer decided to place you under arrest for a DUI. Now, you’re not sure what to expect.

Facing a DUI? Understand the potential consequences

It’s smart to understand the potential consequences of a DUI. Depending on the test results, you could face serious fines, imprisonment, community service and more.

What happens if you have a .08% blood alcohol concentration?

If you are arrested with a .08% BAC, then you could face DUI penalties such as a fine of up to $400, a secondary fine of up to $100 for the drunk driving fund in the state, a surcharge of $1,000 for the next three years and a fee of $75 for the Neighborhood Services Fund. You’ll also be asked to pay $100 to the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund (AERF) and will pay a $230 Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) fee. You’ll also lose your license for three months.

On top of these penalties, you could also face up to 30 days in prison for a first offense and need to spend up to 48 hours in the IDRC program.

Keep in mind that these penalties can be used for anyone under the .10% BAC.

What are the penalties for someone over the .10% limit?

For those with a BAC over .10% or with a drug-related DUI, the basic fees increase to up to $500. All other fees remain the same. The prison sentence remains the same on the first offense. They will lose their license for between seven months and a year.

The major addition for someone with a higher BAC is that they will have a six-month to one-year ignition interlock device requirement following their license restoration.

These penalties are significant. It’s worth taking time to question to the police stop and all subsequent testing. A good defense may help you avoid harsh penalties that could negatively impact your life.